Leeds United are reportedly showing interest in a Copa America star and are keeping tabs on him during this summer’s tournament, after Archie Gray admitted last season he was “brilliant”.
The Whites are going to have to sell a few key players this summer but the need to make a few signings is just as high. A new right-back, a replacement for Joe Rodon and two new wingers are now a priority.
Two wingers because Jaidon Anthony has returned to Bournemouth after a loan at Elland Road. Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto are expected to be sold, Nottingham Forest tabling a bid for the latter.
It would leave Leeds with just Dan James as the club’s only option as a natural winger. Ian Poveda is also about to leave on a free after the club confirmed in the retained list he would not be offered a new deal.
So Leeds need wingers and reports say that The Whites are interested in signing a player that is about to play under Jesse Marsch at Copa America, one that Gray admitted is “brilliant” last season.
Archie Gray admitted new Leeds target was ‘brilliant’ last season
Gray starred at right-back last season despite his tender age and the right side of defence hardly being his natural position. But one player that gave him the run around was Canada attacker Liam Millar.
The 24-year-old scored the winner against Leeds in a 2-1 win for Preston at Deepdale, a game in which Illan Meslier was sent off. Millar got the better of Gray and laid on an assist for Preston’s first goal, too.
Leeds beat Preston thanks to a late penalty in January at Elland Road by the same scoreline, but it was Millar that created Preston’s opener. Speaking after the game, Gray admitted Millar is a brilliant winger.
“With Jack Clarke and Liam Millar, you have to do different thing. It’s about realising who you’re playing against, realising strengths, realising what you need to do for his weaknesses and where to force them.
“You learn the most from difficult games. You’ve got brilliant wingers in this league. Sometimes they’re going to get the better of you in situations, you learn the most from them,” Gray told BBC Radio Leeds.
Millar’s stats for Preston during 2023-24 are unconvincing
But there is a reason why. Looking at his 10 goals and assists in 35 Championship games as a winger puts a bit of doubt into whether he is good enough to replace the likes of Summerville or Gnonto at Leeds.
However, delve a little deeper and Preston played with a 3-4-2-1 system. Millar played on the left of a four as a wing-back, having much more defensive responsibility than the wingers under Daniel Farke.
But the former Liverpool star is clearly a winger, one that prefers to get forward and given that license to attack a full-back. His contract at parent club Basel is about to enter the final year and Leeds could move.