Graham Smyth shares Archie Gray Leeds United transfer verdict as price tag mooted
Graham Smyth believes any club would need to pay more than Kalvin Phillips’ transfer fee to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United this summer.
Manchester City signed Phillips from Elland Road for £42million in the summer of 2022, as per Manchester Evening News, a deal that has seemingly not worked well for the midfielder.
Gray has been linked with several clubs since Leeds missed out on promotion to the Premier League, with Alan Nixon reporting that Borussia Dortmund are keeping an eye on the 18-year-old.
Speaking via the Inside Elland Road podcast on Thursday (6 June), Smyth said: “Archie Gray… I think he’ll be here. The inescapable thing for me is that he comes from a background that has prioritised where you are going to play football.
“You can talk until the cows come home about Gray needing to step up in competition in order to get better. He’s only 18 – one more season in the Championship will do him the world of good. It’s not like he dominated each and every opponent this season. There is still learning to be done.
“Farke was almost always going over to give him little bits of coaching after games. There are things that Farke wanted him to do that he didn’t quite manage. He’s still learning the game, and he will still be learning the game at a very good rate in the Championship with Leeds.
“He’ll be playing, relied upon, and adding some really valuable minutes, which wouldn’t come to the same degree if he went to the Premier League. There’s no point going to a club that is going to finish in 12th or below.
“The Dortmund rumour has 80 per cent likely come because Bellingham went there as an English midfielder.
“If a move like that came around, and they slapped down something on the table that was well north of what Leeds received for Kalvin Phillips because it would have to be, it would have to be higher than the £42million they received from Manchester City, and include a sell-on clause.”
Could Archie Gray depart Leeds United this summer?
Due to Leeds having to fight in the Championship for another season, and the ongoing financial concerns at Elland Road, no player is safe from a transfer bid this summer.
That includes Gray, who has experienced a sensation breakout season under Daniel Farke, proving his ability to deputise in multiple positions, becoming an integral part of the squad.
While Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter are all names who could leave Elland Road this summer, Farke will still be expected to secure promotion at the second time of asking.
The hope will be that the manager can build around Gray, despite being just 18 years of age, and be playing Premier League football with his boyhood club very soon.
It would be quite difficult for the Whites to turn down a significant offer, though, especially with the club needing to pay off unpaid transfer fees to avoid any punishments.
They can certainly achieve that without selling Gray.
In other Leeds news, a replacement for Summerville for just £8.5m has been mooted.
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