Arsenal still interested in Leeds United gem Archie Gray despite Brentford medical update
Leeds United youngster Archie Gray remains a transfer target for Arsenal despite being set to have a medical at Brentford, according to the Mail on Sunday.
The Mail reported in their print edition (30 June, page 96) that the Gunners haven’t given up on signing the 18-year-old, even though United have supposedly accepted a £40million bid from the Bees.
Aston Villa, Tottenham and Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund are all still keen on Gray, but the trio and Arsenal will all have to move quickly if they’re to prevent Brentford from completing the signing first [Bild, 24 June].
The Peacocks are keen to hang on to Gray, but their accepting of a £40million bid from Brentford on the eve of 30 June’s Profit and Sustainability deadline suggests that his departure seems inevitable.
Archie Gray transfer is a crushing blow for Leeds United
‘Selling the Crown Jewels’ is something fans have become accustomed to seeing over the last two decades, as promising youngsters made moves to escape the seemingly continual circus at Elland Road.
James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Fabian Delph and Lewis Cook all departed the club as teenagers having made clear their supreme talents at an early age, and it appears Gray is now set to follow suit.
However, it had appeared that those circus years were firmly behind the club, especially with the expertise and financial strength of 49ers Enterprises having their hands on the pursestrings.
Chairman Paraag Marathe told BBC Radio Leeds that he couldn’t rule out selling Gray to assuage PSR concerns, but the fact that a deal to Brentford (or Arsenal) has come so close to the deadline suggests that all was not as well as the club had indicated [BBC Radio Leeds, 29 May].
Red Bull’s record-breaking sponsorship deal was also pitched as an investment which could prevent this kind of sale from happening, but it appears that the most gut-wrenching of all departures is imminent, and the Crown Jewels are once again heading elsewhere [Last Word on Sports, 30 May].
In other Leeds United news, Jamie Shackleton is close to agreeing a new contract away from Elland Road this summer
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