Former Leeds United Striker Makes Archie Gray Claim
Former Leeds United striker Brian Deane believes that Archie Gray will remain at Elland Road, despite interest from a host of Premier League clubs.
The 17-year-old has been one of the success stories of the season. He made his senior debut for the Whites at the beginning of the campaign and has since become a staple of Daniel Farke’s side.
Having made 39 appearances in all competitions, the versatile youngster – who has operated in a range of positions across the midfield before settling at right-back – has caught the eye of a number of England’s top guns, including Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Wary of those watching, Leeds acted quickly to tie Gray down to a long-term deal in January as rumours began to circulate that Liverpool were preparing an offer in the region of between £40-50 million. Despite this, the summer transfer window is expected to generate fresh speculation.
The Yorkshire side are targeting an immediate return to the top tier themselves after suffering relegation last season. They currently sit third in the Championship, two points behind second-placed Ipswich Town with 10 games remaining.
Farke will be hoping that he can slip into the top two and avoid the lottery of the play-offs. Regardless of what division they will be playing in next season, ex-England international Deane believe there is no chance that Gray departs his boyhood club in the summer:
“No, I think he’ll stay,” Deane told Offers.Bet. “I think this is the best club for him, where he’ll get an understanding of the game and great development.
“He’s very well supported, and the Gray family is very well thought of in the region.
“I think you leave somewhere too quicky or make the wrong move too quickly and it can ruin your career – just look at what has happened to Kalvin Phillips. He was lauded, playing for England. He made the wrong move to Man City which perhaps was never going to be the right move, and his career has stalled since then. It’s going to be hard to see how he comes back from that.
“I think Archie has got good people around him and that’s the difference. He will have his Dad, his grandfather and has the support of the people who have seen everything. I don’t see how he goes anywhere; it just doesn’t make sense.”
Leeds will look to extend their 11-game unbeaten run this weekend when they travel the short distance to relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday. Gray was afforded a break in the midweek win over Stoke City, only appearing as a late substitute, and could return to the starting lineup at Hillsborough.
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