Leeds United now want to sign playmaker Archie Gray, who admitted he was “brilliant” last season

Two inside as Jaidon Anthony has returned to Bournemouth after a loan spell at Elland Road. Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto are expected to be sold, with Nottingham Forest making a bid for the latter.

It would leave Leeds with only Dan James as the club’s only option as a natural winger. Ian Poveda is also set to leave on a free after the club confirmed to the retained list that he will not be offered a new deal.

So Leeds need interiors and reports say the Whites are interested in signing a player set to play under Jesse Marsch at the Copa America, one who Gray admitted was “brilliant” last season.

Archie Gray admitted the new Leeds target was “brilliant” last season

Gray played at right back last season despite his young age and the right side of defense was not his natural position. But one player who let it go was Canadian forward Liam Millar.

The 24-year-old scored the winner against Leeds in a 2-1 win for Preston at Deepdale, a game in which Illan Meslier was sent off. Millar beat Gray and provided an assist for Preston’s first goal as well.

Leeds beat Preston thanks to a late penalty in January at Elland Road by the same scoreline, but Millar created Preston’s opener. Speaking after the game, Gray admitted that Millar is a brilliant winger.

“With Jack Clarke and Liam Millar, you have to do different things. It’s about figuring out who you’re playing against, figuring out his strengths, figuring out what to do for his weaknesses and where to force them.

“You learn the most from the difficult games. You have brilliant interiors in this league. Sometimes they’ll get the better of you in situations, you learn the most from them,” Gray told BBC Radio Leeds.

Millar’s stats for Preston in 2023-24 are underwhelming

But there is a reason why. Looking at his 10 goals and assists in 35 league games as a winger, it casts a bit of doubt on whether he is good enough to replace Summerville or Gnonto at Leeds.

However, dig a little deeper and Preston played with a 3-4-2-1 system. Millar played on the left of a back four as a full-back, with far more defensive responsibility than the wings under Daniel Farke.

But the former Liverpool star is clearly a winger, one who prefers to get forward and has that license to attack a full-back. His contract at parent club Basel is about to enter its final year and Leeds could make a move.

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