Leeds United must ready themselves for fan fallout as Archie Gray transfer news emerges
Leeds United will only have themselves to blame should Archie Gray depart Elland Road in January or next summer as Premier League giants Liverpool join the race for his signature.
News publication Daily Mail, reporting on 10 November, shared that the Reds are lining up a big-money move for the Leeds teenager just three months are making his senior debut for the club.
The 17-year-old could cost the Reds at least £40million, as Leeds would be reluctant to let one of their star academy products leave the club in the near future.
Newspaper journalist Alan Nixon, taking to his Patreon page on 25 September reported that Crystal Palace plan to be at the front of the queue if Leeds are forced to cash in on their prized academy asset while Everton are also interested in the Elland Road gem.
The interest in the young midfielder is of no surprise given the remarkable start to his career in West Yorkshire and the fact that he’s already a key figure in Farke’s rejuvenated squad, despite his tender age.
However, the Whites will only have themselves to blame should Gray be tempted by a Premier League move or they are forced to sell their prized asset as they are continuously stalling on his new contract at the club.
Suggestions have been made that they are already happy to extend his stay having only signed a new deal in Yorkshire in March [Phil Hay, 9 August] but given the increasing interest, it’s surprise the Whites haven’t moved mountains to secure his future even further.
However, while a considerable financial boost may come in handy should they demand a considerable price on Gray, it could certainly send out the wrong message if they were to easily fold and sell him to the highest bidder.
It would make more financial sense if Leeds United were to give first-team opportunities for their academy talents, keeping them for at least a few years before agreeing to part ways for a huge and healthy profit.
Not only that but 49ers Enterprises have huge ambitions for the football club in terms of making Leeds United an English football superpower once again but those lofty ambitions will be shattered if they’re ransacked over their burgeoning young talents by their rivals.
With Gray just at the start of his development at Elland Road, both 49ers and Farke must strongly place a “hands-off” demand on their key and most prized academy asset by offering him another new deal.
They’re only hurting themselves if they leave it too late because a potential fan fallout should well be anticipated if they don’t move fast.
In other Leeds United news, international media have heaped praise on Marc Roca for his “great” Europa League display for Real Betis