Not Summerville: Liverpool chief scout Barry Hunter has ‘made contact’ with Leeds United diamond

Liverpool may have to look beyond Leeds United this summer when it comes to their income in the next window.

Ben Jacobs has reported that while Reds chief scout Barry Hunter has “made contact” with Archie Gray’s family, it looks unlikely he will leave the Whites this summer.

That’s because the footballer’s family believes that Daniel Farke’s outfit remains the best place for his development.

“I’m not sure many of the clubs linked to Gray can give him the game time needed for his development. Look at Liverpool who are very close to the Gray family and I know for a fact that the player, his family and those around him respect the people at Liverpool who have been in touch, especially chief scout Barry Hunter. the CaughtOffside columnist spoke on the Just Joe Football Show.

“In the Gray family’s view, the best place for him is Leeds United and so it will take something quite special, or financially urgent from Leeds’ perspective, to change that.”

The Championship star has been an ever-present in Leeds’ promotion run, making 52 appearances in all competitions and spending just two of the club’s second-tier games on the bench.

Archie Gray in the championship playoff final – (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Ar

The 18-year-old is described as a central midfielder on Transfermarkt, although intriguingly he played best at right-back in Leeds’ 2023/24 campaign.

There are, of course, 19 outings as a midfielder among those (split between a six, central midfield and attacking midfield role).

It is a remarkable degree of versatility displayed by the youngster from the start of his senior football career.

With our own impressive star fighting for a place with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, not to mention a top youngster holding the midfield in Stefan Bajcetic, it’s hard to see where we find space for Gray in team.

In that case, barring any unforeseen exits from Liverpool, we’d probably agree that he’s better served staying in West Yorkshire!