Leeds United fans would have been hoping to be playing Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the new Premier League season.
But instead, Leeds are now going to sell one of their star assets to Spurs and prepare for another season in England’s second tier.
It just goes to show what a defeat in a Championship play-off final does to you because this is something that will haunt Leeds for a long time, especially if they don’t return sharpish.
Top Premier League teams are at risk of having to sell their key players this summer because of financial rules, so you can imagine that those at Elland Road are probably worse off.
Yes, Leeds may have missed out on the chance to earn promotion last term, but Archie Gray was one of their key players and pivotal to their strong performances.
But now Tottenham are about to secure the talents of the 18-year-old and Jeff Stelling can’t believe that the Yorkshire outfit are allowing such a deal to go through.
The former Sky Sports presenter highlighted that Gray is ‘one of their own’ and one of their best players, so they should look to move someone else on instead, as he told talkSPORT (02/07/24 at 7:30 am).
Sources told HITC that Brentford wanted to sign Gray, but Tottenham came swooping in – and now they are close to securing his services.
Even though several Premier League clubs are showcasing interest in Gray and it puts Leeds on the back foot because they are in the Championship.
Stelling thinks Leeds fans will still be ‘absolutely seething’ at the prospect of losing their academy star.
Archie Gray to join Tottenham Hotspur from Leeds United
“Another Spurs story, Spurs close to agreeing a deal for Leeds midfielder Archie Gray,” said Stelling.
“Leeds fans are absolutely besides themselves. Archie Gray is one of their own. He is only 18. What is the Leeds board thinking about in selling Archie Gray. You sell your best players, then you aren’t going to get promoted and your best young player. Sell somebody else (if Leeds have to sell).
“I think Archie might have, I don’t know it, might have been content to have another year or so at Leeds before he moved on. But Tottenham is a great club for him. £40 million they are talking about. There could be a bit of a makeweight in Joe Rodon. But if I am Leeds fan this morning, I am absolutely seething about that. It has been on the cards because he has been linked with Brentford as well.”
Archie Gray is Premier League quality
Before the summer started, many were wondering how well Daniel Levy was going to back Ange Postecoglou in the dugout.
As of this moment, everyone is getting their answer because he is providing Postecoglou with what he wants and this could be one of Spurs’ best deals yet, if it goes through.
READ MORE: Gary Neville critical of player Tottenham Hotspur let go after his nation’s Euro 2024 exit
There is no doubting that Gray has Premier League quality in his blood. It’s just a case of whether or not he is ready for the step up.
Even if he isn’t, he has so much time to progress and Postecoglou will no doubt take his game to the next level.
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