Leeds United teenager Archie Gray is already one of the most highly sought after youngsters in English football.
This time last year, Gray had still been awaiting his first team debut at Leeds but after starting the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on the opening day of the season, has not looked back since.
Both at right-back and in central midfield, Gray went onto make 52 appearances last season but unfortunately after Leeds‘ failure to win promotion, speculation over his future has been intense.
A number of Europe’s elite clubs are said to be keen on signing him this summer, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Liverpool among them.
Chairman Paraag Marathe was asked about Gray’s future in an interview that swiftly followed Leeds’ play-off final defeat to Southampton, but did not want to commit either way as to whether he would be staying.
What it would take for Leeds to consider selling Gray
Leeds are in a position this summer which is going to require them selling some key players. It is the reality of being a Championship club for a second successive season.
On paper, Gray is undoubtedly Leeds’ most sellable asset. He is still only 18, recently signed a long-term contract, is English and already has an abundance of first team experience under his belt.
What’s more, given he came through the academy at Thorp Arch, any potential sale would represent pure profit towards Leeds’ compliance with PSR.
However, Gray is a boyhood Leeds fan and given the legacy in which his family has built at Elland Road, he is in no rush to look for an exit after just a year in the senior side.
And according to Team Talk, Leeds’ stance on selling him marries up with Gray’s wishes, with ‘sources’ at the club claiming it would take a ‘mammoth proposal’ for it to happen.
It remains uncertain as to what sort of numbers that consists of, but surely anything under the £50 million mark would not even bring 49ers Enterprises to the negotiating table.
Gray could double his value by staying at Leeds
LeedsUnited.News recently spoke exclusively to transfer insider Graeme Bailey about Gray’s future at Leeds, who suggested his value could potentially double over the next 12 months if he was to stay and help the club win promotion.
That should be yet more evidence from Leeds’ perspective that keeping him for at least another season would be the way forward.
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.”