- 17 Nov 2024
Brentford close in on Leeds midfielder Archie Gray
Jacque Talbot
- 29 Jun 2024 16:39 BST
- 6 min read
Exclusive
Brentford are close to sealing a move for Archie Gray of Leeds, FootballTransfers has been told.
The Bees are the most advanced for the player, despite interest from Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea.
We understand that a fee is close to being agreed between the Premier League outfit and Leeds.
Leeds United are bracing themselves for the departure of one of the club's best talents.
Last season, the midfielder and right-back had a brilliant breakout year. At just 17, they earned the trust of coach Daniel Farke, even with the high stakes of playing for a promotion-chasing team.
For months, speculation surrounding Gray's future has been rampant, but we are told Brentford are the most likely destination.
Leeds are expected to be under pressure to sell one or two big names, so they might be willing to lower their demands for Gray, who would represent pure profit on the books. The homegrown hero currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €20.5m.
How good is Archie Gray?
Archie Gray is the youngster talent to emerge from the Gray family. His father, Andy Gray, rose through the Leeds academy ranks and had two spells as a player at Elland Road.
Meanwhile, grandfather Frank Gray played for the club during the 1970s and 1980s. He is the great-nephew Eddie Gray, one of the club’s greatest players who also managed the team.
Like the rest of his family, Gray junior started at the Whites’ academy level, joining at under-nine and quickly advancing through the Thorp Arch system. At just 15, he was named as a substitute for a Premier League match against Arsenal.
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Last season, Gray made his senior debut at the start of the 2023/24 season, and even became a starter in Daniel Farke’s starting XI.
Technically gifted, Gray’s close control allows him to navigate tight spaces effortlessly. He can initiate attacks by either carrying the ball or making use of his exceptional passing range.
Indeed, he can also be poised as a right-back, where he has shown himself to be astutely capable defensively.
Despite his age, Gray looked well in place in the Championship and appeared to be just fine with the division’s physical demands.
Against Chelsea, Gray even won the Man of the Match award in Leeds' FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge in February 2024.
Gray’s current boss Farke said of the teenager before the contest: "I was a bit more careful in my judgement at the beginning of the season because you can't just rely on a 17-year-old as a cornerstone of your team.
"You can't really predict how it will work out in terms of his body, how he can handle the load, especially in the Championship with such a tough, physical league. But he's doing excellently. My concerns I had at the beginning of the season have eased up a lot."
Read more about: Premier League, Brentford
