Liverpool have gained a lot of plaudits for the way they have conducted business in the transfer market.
The Reds usually take a measured approach when it comes to incomings and have largely refrained from splashing the cash on big signings, unless it’s for certified game-changers like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.
The summer transfer window, however, proved to be a bit of a strange one for Liverpool as Arne Slot signed only Federico Chiesa in August and shut up shop.
Their squad didn’t need major surgery as the Dutchman inherited a fantastic bunch of players from Jurgen Klopp, but the previous transfer window still feels like a missed opportunity despite how the season has panned out so far.
And the Reds well and truly missed the trick with Archie Gray, who has earned rave reviews for his performances since signing for Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool missed out on Archie Gray in the summer
After Martin Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool, the Reds opted against pursuing alternatives, instead opting to use Ryan Gravenberch as a number six.
And it’s safe to say Slot’s decision to do so has already paid dividends, with the Dutch international playing the best football of his professional career and also forcing his way into Ronald Koeman’s squad for the national team.
However, it goes without saying that they could have done with a player like Gray in the squad, who was in the market in the summer after bursting onto the scene at Leeds United.
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Gray was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool – with the Reds scouting him for ages and holding a fantastic relationship with his family – but a move never came to fruition as he eventually signed for Tottenham.
The 18-year-old is capable of playing in central midfield and at right-back and has shown in his brief period in North London that his maturity belies his age.
Additionally, in recent weeks, Gray has been deployed as a central defender due to an ongoing injury crisis at Tottenham.
Much to everyone’s surprise, the young Englishman has held his own at the heart of the backline, producing a memorable display in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Liverpool.
The Reds have made in-game changes and have had to use Gravenberch as a centre-back in a few games this season, while the Dutchman, as good as he’s been, has played way too many minutes for his own good.
If Liverpool had a player like Gray in the squad, he could have been a great rotation option at the very least and would’ve had the chance to play quite a few minutes this season as the Reds are competing on all fronts.
All in all, Liverpool’s failure to sign Gray very much seems like a glorious opportunity they let slip in the summer.
Gray’s stats this season
Gray has been described as a phenomenal player by Jermaine Beckford and is one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League currently.
He has played 25 games across all competitions this season, with 12 of those coming as a central defender and six as a right-back.
At the risk of going overboard, his versatility could be compared to that of James Milner and we’ve seen over the years that players such as Gray have always had a place in great squads.
The Championship has produced some fantastic talents over the years and Gray certainly seems like the next one from their production line.
Liverpool missed out on him, but it would be worth keeping an eye on the Championship in the upcoming transfer window to see if they can nab a player or two.