Archie Gray left Leeds United too soon as shock Tottenham transfer speculation emerges already
Archie Gray could be regretting leaving Leeds United for Tottenham so early in his career after being linked with a loan move to Sevilla.
Mucho Deporte reported on 22 October that Sevilla’s director of football – a certain Victor Orta – has sounded out the 18-year-old for a possible loan move in January, amid a lack of minutes at Tottenham.
Gray has made just four Premier League appearances for Spurs since his £40million switch in July, which came hot on the heels of the Whites failing to win promotion via the play-off final.
Should the youngster leave North London to reunite with Orta – a polarising figure at Elland Road to say the least – just six months later, many a United fan wouldn’t be able to hide their disappointment.
Archie Gray Sevilla transfer would leave Leeds United fans reeling
Leaving Elland Road at just 18, and after a single season in senior football, always represented a leap of faith for Gray, but the financial ramifications of being in the Championship made his sale unavoidable.
On the other side of the same coin, it’s arguable that had Orta proven to be a better director of football during his time in LS11, Gray would be playing Premier League football in a different white shirt.
Orta’s over-zealous spending on transfers, many of which have not aged well, and poor managerial choices in the wake of Marcelo Bielsa’s sacking, are seen as a major reason behind United’s relegation.
Therefore, few fans would be able to stomach the prospect of Gray playing for a top-tier side under the stewardship of Orta – as that’s what should be have been the case for years to come at Elland Road.
With his £40m move to North London, Gray is no longer Leeds’ to worry about, but given his long family connection to the club, and emergence from their academy, seeing him shipped off to Spain at Orta’s behest would feel like a real kick in the teeth.
In other Leeds news, Daniel Farke is expected to make two changes as his United side take on Watford at Elland Road.
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