David Ornstein has revealed Leeds United academy graduate, Archie Gray, has agreed personal terms with Brentford despite being linked with Tottenham Hotspur.
Gray, 18, has well and truly broken through at Leeds United this season, featuring 52 times in all competitions this season for the club that his great uncle, Eddie Gray, played for and managed.
Archie, who is an academy graduate of Leeds, has strong connections with the club due to his father and grandfather, as well as his great uncle all pulling on the famous white Leeds shirt in their lifetime.
Being at the club since the age of nine, in addition to his personal links to the club, it was always going to be hard to prize away the Championship Young Player of the Season from Leeds, even with clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal circling around the teenager. (The Sun)
A shock report from The Athletic on Saturday (29/6/24) however suggests that Gray will be moving to London this summer, but it will be to the unforeseen destination of Brentford.
Football.London as recently as last week, reported Tottenham have a ‘strong interest’ in Gray although acknowledging a host of other top Premier League clubs are also chasing the youngster who can play both right-back and central midfield, making him a perfect candidate for Postecoglou’s system.
The Athletic have now revealed though that ‘Brentford manoeuvred themselves into the strongest position and are now working to close out a deal’.
Gray appears to be set for the move with the report also revealing that he is ‘set to undergo a medical at Brentford after agreeing personal terms’.
£35 million is reportedly the fee that Brentford are ‘expected to reach an agreement with Leeds’ over, with that price being widely touted throughout the transfer saga.
The player will pocket Leeds 100% profit which will go a long way to protecting the club from PSR sanctions, The Athletic confirmed it had a factor in the transfer with their financial positions leaving them ‘no choice but to reluctantly sanction this exit’.
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Having paid close attention to the Championship last season, and subsequently, Leeds, Gray possesses all of the top qualities to allow him to reach the very top of world football, his versatility, first touch, engine and passing range at such a tender age are outstanding.
The fact that Gray can play both right-back and central midfield did make him almost tailor-made for Ange Postecoglou. That, partnered with the player’s professional and polite demeanour does make the blow that little bit worse to hear Spurs have lost out on him.
Brentford will presumably offer Gray consistent Premier League game time for at least next season with Thomas Frank likely building his team around the talented teenager.
This does feel like one of those deals Tottenham will miss out upon for £35 million, only to be interested again in two seasons for double that price.
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