Leeds United already know that plenty of their players are going to be the subject of interest this summer.
The Whites‘ failure to beat Southampton at Wembley in the play-off final last month has them preparing for another season of Championship football, which means some sales will be needed.
Chairman Paraag Marathe has already acknowledged that fact but insists they will have a squad strong enough to go one better when the season starts in August.
Though the transfer window does not officially open until Friday, there has already been plenty of speculation as to who might leave Elland Road.
In the almost immediate aftermath of losing to Southampton, BBC journalist Rory Smith touted all of Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray for the exit door.
Transfer insider shares update on Archie Gray’s Leeds future
Last week, LeedsUnited.News spoke exclusively to transfer insider Graeme Bailey on a range of topics currently bubbling away at Elland Road.
Among them was the likelihood of Brenden Aaronson returning to Leeds after his loan spell at Union Berlin, of which now appears to be the case.
He also spoke of Leeds’ interest in out of contract Sheffield United striker Daniel Jebbison, as well as the prospect of Willy Gnonto signing a new contract.
The future of Leeds’ most prized asset Gray was also discussed amid interest from seriously top level clubs, including German giants Bayern Munich.
Bailey says Gray currently features ‘very high’ on a lot of teams’ lists and believes they may make their move to sign him this summer as opposed to next, when he could’ve potentially doubled in value.
He said: “If you are Archie Gray you only need to look at the likes of Adam Wharton, or even more accurately Jude Bellingham. I think Archie Gray is a generational talent and we haven’t even seen half of his potential at Leeds.
“Like with Bellingham, you can still be a fan of a Championship club and then go play for someone big. We have seen it plenty of times. He will always be a Leeds fan, but the chances are he won’t spend much of his career there now.
“I think Leeds will be worried going into the summer, if one of these big clubs decide to take a run at him, from the continent, it will be hard to keep him. Gray will be looking at Wharton playing for England last night six months after leaving Blackburn.
“Talent wise, Gray is up there with Wharton and I’m not saying he is the next Bellingham, but he is that good. I think Leeds would do very well to keep him this summer and it depends who wants him.
“He is very high on a lot of teams’ lists and if you do want Gray, you are better off getting him now after Leeds failed to go up. This summer would be the best one to do it, don’t let him be a part of Leeds’ Championship winning team with him as the star player. It might cost you twice as much.”
What is Gray’s stance on staying at Leeds
As mentioned, and as everyone is already well aware, the ‘special‘ Gray is a boyhood Leeds fan and so he is currently living his dream of playing for the club he has always supported.
Nowadays, however, money talks and if Leeds do need to sell him in order to comply with PSR, Gray will not have much say in that matter.
That said, despite the raft of interest in him from top-level sides, it has been reported that Gray would prefer to stay at Elland Road.
The 18-year-old only put pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal at Leeds in January and so clearly he sees himself playing for the club for many years to come.