German giants Borussia Dortmund are reportedly the latest club to express interest in Leeds United youngster Archie Gray.
The academy product had an outstanding debut season in senior football, making 52 appearances across all competitions. Despite Leeds United narrowly missing out on an immediate return to the Premier League after a close defeat against Southampton in the Championship play-off final, Gray’s performances stood out. Former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke gave Gray his first senior start in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on the opening day of the season, and the youngster quickly became a key part of Farke’s plans at Elland Road.
Speaking about Gray in the final month of the season, Daniel Farke said: “He is, without any doubt, one of the biggest talents in his age group in this country. If you’re one of the biggest talents, then you have the potential to reach everything. For Archie, yes, the sky is the limit. But it’s not about saying one day he will be there and one day he will be there. You have to live in the here and now because there are still many aspects where he can learn and improve. If he continues with this work ethic and professionalism, he has every chance to reach everything he wants. He has represented his country at youth level and obviously has the potential to do it at a proper level with the mature Three Lions.”
Leeds’ failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League has reportedly accelerated their need to sell players. While Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto have both been heavily linked with moves away from Elland Road, it is Gray who is attracting the most significant interest. According to HITC, clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur have all shown interest in the youngster over the past year. However, Germany is said to be his most likely destination if Leeds decide to sell, with Dortmund “pushing hard” to secure his signature. The report also claims Leeds could accept an offer of less than £30 million, but only as part of a total deal costing over £50 million once add-ons and bonuses are included.
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