Graham Smyth thinks that in order for any club to get Leeds United’s Archie Gray this summer, they would have to pay more than Kalvin Phillips’ transfer cost.
According to Manchester Evening News, Phillips was signed by Manchester City for £42 million in the summer of 2022 after leaving Elland Road; the midfielder hasn’t looked to be happy with the arrangement.
Since Leeds failed to get promoted to the Premier League, Gray has been linked to a number of teams. Alan Nixon has reported that Borussia Dortmund is keeping an eye on the 18-year-old.
Speaking on Thursday, June 6, on the Inside Elland Road podcast, Smyth stated: “Archie Gray… I believe he’ll be present. For me, it is unavoidable that he comes from a family that places a high value on where football players play.
“You can talk about Gray needing to step up in competition to improve until the cows come home. He’s only eighteen; he would benefit greatly from one more Championship season. It isn’t as though he has dominated every opponent this season. Learning is still an ongoing process.
“Farke would practically always visit him to offer him brief coaching sessions following games. Farke had certain expectations of him that he didn’t quite meet. He is still learning the game, and in the Championship with Leeds, he will continue to pick it up quickly.
“If he moved to the Premier League, he wouldn’t be playing, being counted on, and contributing some really important minutes to the team to the same extent. Attending a club that will place 12th or lower is pointless.
Bellingham attended Dortmund as an English midfielder, which is probably where the 80% of the rumors about him originated.
“It would have to be more than the £42 million Leeds received from Manchester City and include a sell-on clause if a move like that came around and they slapped something on the table that was well north of what Leeds received for Kalvin Phillips.”
Is Archie Gray likely to leave Leeds United in the summer?
No player at Elland Road is safe from a transfer bid this summer because Leeds will need to compete in the Championship for a further season and because of the ongoing financial issues at the stadium.
Among them is Gray, who has had an incredible breakthrough campaign under Daniel Farke, demonstrating his versatility as a substitute and solidifying his place on the team.
Even though players like Georgia Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto, and Crysencio Summerville may depart Elland Road this summer, Farke will still be anticipated to get promoted when he comes back for more.
Though it would be tough for the Whites to decline a big offer, given that the team must settle outstanding transfer costs to stay out of trouble.
They can accomplish that without having to sell Gray, for sure.
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