Leeds United ‘special’ player to double in value next season if not sold this summer

Chairman Paraag Marathe has already acknowledged that fact but insists they will have a strong enough squad to go one better when the season starts in August.

Although the transfer window doesn’t officially open until Friday, there has already been plenty of speculation as to who could leave Elland Road.

Almost immediately after losing to Southampton, BBC journalist Rory Smith tipped Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray for the exit door.

Transfer the inside scoop on Archie Gray’s Leeds future

Last week, LeedsUnited.News spoke exclusively to transfer insider Graeme Bailey on a number of topics currently unfolding at Elland Road.

Among them was the likelihood of Brenden Aaronson returning to Leeds after his loan spell at Union Berlin, which now appears to be the case.

He also spoke of Leeds’ interest in out-of-contract Sheffield United striker Daniel Jebbison, as well as the prospect of Willy Gnonto signing a new deal.

The future of Leeds’ most prized asset Gray has also been mooted amid interest from serious top-flight clubs, including German giants Bayern Munich.

Bailey says Gray is currently “very high” on many teams’ lists and believes they could make a move to sign him this summer, as opposed to next, when he could have doubled his value.

He said: “If you’re Archie Gray, you only have to look at the likes of Adam Wharton, or more specifically Jude Bellingham. I think Archie Gray is a generational talent and we haven’t even seen half of his potential at Leeds.

“Like Bellingham, you can still be a fan of a championship club and then play for somebody big. I have seen it many times. He will always be a Leeds fan, but chances are he won’t spend much of his career there now.

“I think Leeds will be worried going into the summer, if one of these big clubs decides to make a run for him from the continent it will be difficult to keep him. Gray will watch Wharton play for England last night six months after leaving Blackburn.

“In terms of talent, Gray is up there with Wharton, and I’m not saying he’s the next Bellingham, but he’s that good. I think Leeds would do very well to keep him this summer and it depends on who wants him.

“He’s very high on a lot of teams’ lists and if you want Gray you’d better get him now after Leeds failed to get promotion. This summer would be the best to do it, don’t let him be part of Leeds’ Championship winning team with him as their star player. It might cost you twice as much.”

What is Gray’s position on staying at Leeds

As mentioned, and as everyone is already aware, the ‘special’ Gray is a childhood Leeds fan and so is currently living his dream of playing for the club he has always supported.

Money talks these days, though, and if Leeds have to sell him to meet the PSR, Gray won’t have much say in the matter.

That said, despite interest in him from top-flight sides, it has been reported that Gray would prefer to stay at Elland Road.

The 18-year-old only put pen to paper in January on a new long-term deal at Leeds and so clearly sees himself playing for the club for many years to come.

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