Phil Hay has insisted that Leeds United are hoping to keep Jack Harrison and offer him a new contract.

The Lowdown: Interest refusing to go away

Interest in Harrison is not something unusual for Leeds to have to deal with as Newcastle United lodged two bids for the winger over the summer which they managed to reject and keep hold of their star winger.

However, given the poor form Harrison has shown this season in terms of goal this season, Leeds could soon be tempted to cash in on the 26-year-old who helped them get out of the Championship.

While Marsch insisted that he's happy with Harrison and how he's been performing, he didn't totally rule out a January exit amid interest from fellow relegation rivals Leicester City.

The Latest: Leeds want to keep Harrison

Despite the interest in Harrison, Hay has admitted on The Phil Hay Show that Leeds are not looking to sell to a relegation rival and even wish to open contract talks next month.

He said: (30:30) "My understanding is very much that the plan has been - and I think still is - to try and get Harrison tied to a new contract when the window ends.

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"There's a reluctance to sell him to Leicester because of where Leicester are in the table around about them. There's an acceptance that Leicester will pay him more than Leeds would pay him without any doubt and there's enough whispering about this at the Leicester end to make me think Leicester are quietly hopeful this might fall into place.

"Marsch was pretty clear when he was asked about it today [Thursday] that he's important and they need him."

The Verdict: Harrison likely to stay

It would be madness for Leeds to allow Harrison to first of all leave when he's one of the few attacking options who have significant Premier League experience and is capable of putting in quality displays as he did earlier in the season when journalist Conor McGilligan labelled his performance against Southampton as 'phenomenal'.

While Harrison certainly hasn't hit the highest this season of past campaigns in terms of goals and assists, it may only take one good performance to rekindle that fire which Leeds could need to shoot up the table.

During this transfer window, Leeds have only made their squad stronger by recruiting the likes of Maximilian Wober and Georginio Rutter and are tipped to land Weston McKennie, to then weaken themselves in the final few days would surely leave Marsch ripping his hair out.