Archie Gray has expressed his goals for a lengthy future as a premier football player, including how Leeds United fits into his plans.
Daniel Farke has found the 17-year-old to be a revelation this season. The youngster has a history of playing football for the Whites dating back to his great uncle Frank Gray and grandfather Eddie Gray.
He didn’t appear to be out of touch when he entered the starting lineup for the first game of the 2023–24 season, despite the team’s lackluster start to the season. He was going to be unique, and he has shown that he is. That much was evident right away.
That kind of talent, at that age, is always going to garner the attention of the biggest fish in the pond, so it was no surprise when news of Premier League interest in Gray started to come out.
Leeds are going to receive a lot of phone calls, between now and the end of the summer transfer window, about the teenager, and he has revealed how he wants the club to be a part of his future.
Archie Gray on his future with Leeds United
The midfielder, who has played as a full-back for much of the season, has told Sky Sports that he wants to play in the Premier League, but that he wants to do it with Leeds.
“It would mean a lot to me because that is the goal that everyone has got here,” said the 17-year-old. “Especially being from Leeds, that’s where the club deserves to be and should be. I want to try and win trophies with Leeds, that’s always what I’ve dreamed of as a kid. Playing for England’s first team is another one that every kid from England dreams of.”
This season, Gray has participated in all but two of the team’s league games; this is an incredible accomplishment for a player his age, let alone the caliber of his play. He responded, “It would have been unrealistic to think I was going to play pretty much all the games,” when asked if this quantity of playing time was expected. I put a lot of effort into impressing the manager throughout the preseason. It was profitable.
It’s been excellent thus far. We’ve had some fantastic victories, and now is the critical time where we simply need to keep working hard and getting the outcomes.”
Premier League teams interested in Archie Gray
As far back as November, there have been reports of some of the top clubs in the country wanting Gray. Liverpool were said to be readying a bid in excess of £40 million for the young star. Other top teams who have been linked with him include Manchester United and Manchester City.
Former striker Don Goodman, who is from the Yorkshire city, said, to MOT Leeds News, that Gray should be fully up to speed with the dislike that Leeds and Man United have for each other, because of the family he comes from, and that he should steer clear of any interest from them.
Football Insider have reported that, while the club’s resolve: “will be tested,” in the summer, the person who has the final say on any transfer of the 17-year-old will be him.
Archie Gray shouldn’t be rushing to get out of Leeds.
In the January transfer window, when the likelihood of Leeds finishing in the top two of the Championship was still uncertain, it would have been alluring to consider a possible transfer abroad in exchange for Premier League football. However, given the current state of his boyhood club, he must at least make it through this season.
With eight games remaining, Leeds leads the league, surpassing previous leaders Leicester City thanks to a better goal differential.
The Whites will be the unavoidable favorites to win the play-offs even if they are not successful in securing automatic promotion to the top division. Gaining promotion with Leeds and remaining there would be the simplest route for Gray to obtain the minutes he desires in the Premier League.
After seeing his abilities in the top division, teams higher up the food chain will undoubtedly come knocking for him, even if their first season back in the promised land doesn’t go as planned.
