Leeds United respond to club-record Brentford offer for Archie Gray
Leeds United have rejected Brentford’s offer to sign teenage midfielder Archie Gray, according to Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist updated fans on X, saying that the club had “officially” rebuffed a bid from Brentford, previously believed to be in the region of £40million.
Previous reports had stated that Gray was in the process of completing a transfer to the West London side, including a medical being scheduled ahead of the move being sealed on 30 June.
18-year-old Gray has attracted the interests of a whole host of clubs already this summer, but Brentford had appeared to be closest to sealing a deal for the England youth international prior to this curveball [Mail on Sunday, 30 June].
Could Archie Gray stay at Leeds United after transfer twist?
Smyth’s potentially seismic update could be a crucial turning point for the Whites this summer, with the prospect of Gray moving to Brentford a gut-wrenching blow for everyone associated with the club.
The 18-year-old took to the Championship like a duck to water, excelling in central midfield and at right-back, and hopes were high that Gray was a player future United sides would be built around [Justin Allen, 15 April].
However, the Peacocks’ failure to seal promotion means the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules have tightened significantly at Elland Road, with 30 June the final day of accounting for 2023/24.
Chairman Paraag Marathe did indicate that sales would have to happen this summer, but with little movement so close to the deadline, reports of Gray heading to Brentford took many a fan by surprise [BBC Radio Leeds, 29 May].
If a switch to the Premier League side now doesn’t come to pass, United fans will know that in terms of transfer speculation surrounding their teenage starlet, this is not the beginning of the end – it’s the end of the beginning.
In other Leeds news, another update has emerged surrounding the future of Whites winger Crysencio Summerville.
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