David James has backed the idea of Archie Gray leaving Leeds United and securing a transfer to Liverpool.
The 17-year-old is one of the best youngsters in the Championship and he is earning regular minutes for a team vying for promotion back to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side currently occupy an automatic place, but Ipswich Town and Southampton are hunting them down, with only two points separating the trio.
Young Archie Gray has played a huge part in this all, a midfielder by trade, he has been used at right-back in recent months and is still excelling in Leeds United colours.
That’s why there is interest in his talents, with sources telling HITC Football that Liverpool and Newcastle United aren’t giving up on signing the rising Leeds star.
When David James was asked whether Archie Gray should make that switch to Merseyside, he feels, for the long-term of his future, he should make that move and it would be a ‘smart signing’ for Liverpool, as he told GGrecon.
Of course, if the Whites can make an instant return to England’s elite, then it will make life easier for the club to keep their best talents.
If they don’t, then they will start to sweat because many are backing their Elland Road academy product to reach the top of the tree.
Archie Gray’s future
“I don’t know a massive amount about him, but the fact that he’s shown that he can play regularly in the Championship is very impressive,” said James.
“For a young player to be able to show the ability and consistency in order to be in that side is impressive. Leeds are a big team, let’s be fair, and the expectation at Leeds, especially the Championship, is that they shouldn’t be there and should be in the Premier League.
“So in many ways, he’s learning what it would be like to play at Liverpool because the expectation at Liverpool is the same, but on a different level of course. Would it be better for him in the long-term to stay at Leeds United next season? I’m not sure.
“There have been a number of young players at Liverpool over the last few years that have been given a chance to play under Jurgen Klopp. You look at Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah, who weren’t as young as 17, who have had opportunities to prove themselves.
“The new manager may come in and say that we’ll buy him and leave him at Leeds irrespective of whether they get promoted or not, and bring him in a couple of years down the line, which is similar to what they’ve got planned for Fabio Carvalho. However, at the moment it looks as if things aren’t going as well as Liverpool planned for Fabio. Archie is still so young, so it could be a smart signing for Liverpool in the long run and it could be a good opportunity for the player himself.”
Archie Gray should stay at Leeds
Regardless of what happens with Leeds, Gray should stay put and continue to learn his game in an environment he knows so well.
There are many past examples of young Leeds stars moving and then not progressing as they would have liked.
Winger Jack Clarke is a prime example, yes, he is now doing an amazing job for Sunderland, but that transfer to Tottenham just didn’t work out.
Gray is still very young, he will still be considered a youngster in five years. There is still plenty of time to progress here for the kid and there isn’t any need to rush.
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