Leeds United News

Archie Gray is someone who Leeds United fans will be following throughout his career, with the young defender sealing a dream £30million move to the Premier League last summer.

Archie Gray is now at Tottenham Hotspur where he’s gaining some great experience playing in the Premier League at the age of just 18, having made 12 league appearances for the North Londoners already this season.

Recently, it was revealed that Gray rejected both Liverpool and Manchester City so that he could head to Spurs and get proper first-team exposure.

Spurs though are now looking at another Leeds United player in Pascal Struijk. It’s been claimed recently that Struijk is a target for Spurs during this January transfer window, with the Dutchman valued at £25million by the 49ers.

Struijk scored the only goal in Leeds’ 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day, with Daniel Farke’s side remaining in 1st place of the Championship table, now with just a three-point lead at the top.

How Archie Gray could play role in Pascal Struijk move to Tottenham

Now, it looks as though the pieces might fall in place for Struijk to potentially head to Spurs, and join up with Gray, who may be more of a factor in the potential move than first thought.

Gray has filled in across the defence for Tottenham this season. He’s often found himself playing at centre-back but it seems as though Agne Postecoglou prefers him elsewhere, with Sky Sports confirming that Spurs want a centre-back, and that playing Gray there ‘has not been ideal’.

Their report writes: “Although he has done well under the circumstances, playing Archie Gray at centre-back has not been ideal so this is one area the club are looking to add depth, as well as in the forward positions and central midfield.”

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Struijk’s links to Spurs then may only get stronger as time goes on. As things stand, Spurs sit in 11th place of the Premier League table and have won just one of their last seven in the league.

The four centre-backs that Leeds United could replace Pascal Struijk with

Leeds themselves are light on centre-backs. Now with Struijk wanted by Spurs, it could force the 49ers’ hand in the transfer window.

But Leeds seem to have some irons in the fire with regards to a potential centre-back signing, with reports that Leeds have made a bid for Abdukodir Khusanov at RC Lens, who’s also wanted by the likes of PSG and Manchester City.

Elsewhere, Leeds are being strongly linked with Nico Elvedi at Borussia Monchengladbach, who could yet reunite with former boss Farke at Elland Road. Former Norwich City man Andrew Omobamidele is also linked with a Farke reunion.

Leeds United will be looking to strengthen in the January transfer window, as Daniel Farke aims to take his side back into the top-flight of English football.

January is a challenge for most clubs, with very few deals available and a reluctance to spend big due to the current financial restrictions in England.

However, there needs to be some business done by Leeds United.

A full-back, a centre-back and a No.10 are the obvious improvements and the loan market could help with that. It’s something that Leeds leaned on in January of this year, signing Connor Roberts.

Daniel Farke may also have a goalkeeper on his radar given the links involving Illan Meslier.

And it’s now been claimed that Leeds would be a more likely destination than the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur for Caoimhin Kelleher.

Leeds United the most likely destination for Caoimhin Kelleher

Illan Meslier has come under plenty of criticism for his goalkeeping in recent weeks, with errors present far too often in his game.

Whilst there currently isn’t a desperate need for a goalkeeper whilst he’s at the club, there’s the potential for him to leave in January given links to the Premier League and France.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Mark Gallagher, who also writes for the Irish Daily Mail, has claimed (as per Extra) that Kelleher is more likely to be sold to the Championship than the Premier League.

‘Liverpool are more likely to sanction a move to a club chasing the Championship title, rather than one of their top-flight rivals, such as Chelsea or Tottenham, both of whom have also been mentioned as possible destinations.’

He also mentions.

‘Illan Meslier’s propensity to make the odd mistake, this move makes sense for Leeds, and possibly for Kelleher too, going to a big club who, more than likely, will be back in the Premier League next season.’

What has Graeme Bailey said about a move for Caoimhin Kelleher?

When speaking to Leeds United News, Graeme Bailey claimed the Whites have been talked out of a move for Kelleher, who is valued at £25 million.

“Kelleher is going to be very expensive. Last year he was linked with Celtic, but even Celtic are out of the equation.

“If you sold Meslier, he would be in the mix but a lot of teams will be after Kelleher. I imagine Leeds will be doing their homework on some goalkeepers if Meslier leaves and Kelleher will be one of them.

“He’s concentrating on Liverpool until the summer and then he will have his pick of clubs, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he tries to push through a move to Celtic.

“Does he choose Forest, Fulham, a mid-table Premier League team – or Champions League with Celtic?”

Archie Gray was handed only his second Premier League start after leaving Leeds United in the summer on Sunday night as Tottenham Hotspur clocked up a huge 5-0 win over Southampton.

The pressure was on Ange Postecoglou going into Sunday’s clash on the south coast and his problems were exacerbated by a dismal list of injuries, that included three first-choice centre-backs all sidelined.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were out injured, as was Ben Davies. It left just Radu Dragusin and Gray as options in the middle of Tottenham’s defence but that didn’t matter, as they cruised to a win.

Gray was excellent for Tottenham against a side that beat Leeds three times last season, including the play-offs. Indeed, Leeds fans reacted to Gray getting revenge on Southampton after losing at Wembley.

Archie Gray posts on Instagram as Tottenham beat Southampton

Gray was sensational, enjoying more touches than any other player on the pitch and the only one to touch the ball more than 100 times. Not only that, but the 18-year-old completed 97% of his passes.

Archie Gray’s stats for Tottenham in win v Southampton:

James Maddison scored a brace, while Dejan Kulusevski, Pape Matar Sarr and Son Heung-Min all got themselves on the score sheet. The 5-0 win over Southampton saw Russell Martin sacked by the Saints.

Leeds fans responded to Martin’s sacking on social media after the game, and Gray posted on Instagram. He said: “Great team performance and result! Onto Thursday.” Spurs face Man United in the Carabao Cup.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Harry Gray posts Sergio Ramos GIF on Archie Gray’s Instagram

He was a rolls royce at the back for Tottenham, even denying what looked like a Southampton goal with a last-ditch block inside his own six-yard box as Fraser Forster kept a clean sheet against his old side.

Plenty responded to Gray’s Instagram, including Leeds youngsters Harry Gray and Jeremiah Mullen. His younger brother Harry actually posted a GIF of Sergio Ramos, while Mullen described him as “versatile”.

Djed Spence, now a Tottenham teammate after spending the first half of last season with Gray on loan at Leeds, described Gray as a “jack of all trades”. A brilliant performance for Gray, playing at centre-back.

Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United seem to have formed a good off-field relationship over the last 18 months.

The two clubs have conducted a number of pieces of transfer business between one another across the previous three windows.

Joe Rodon was the first to arrive at Leeds from Spurs as he joined on a season-long-loan back in August 2023, with Djed Spence following soon after.

Rodon’s deal at Elland Road was then made permanent back in July as Archie Gray moved in the opposite direction for £40 million.

Manor Solomon was the fifth and most recent transfer, again making the move to Leeds from Spurs on a season-long-loan.

Tottenham eyeing move for Leeds defender Pascal Struijk

Daniel Farke says January will be quiet at Leeds and the main priority will certainly be keeping their best players, amid the current position they are in the table.

However, that does not stop other clubs from taking a look and speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has a potentially worrying update about Pascal Struijk.

Struijk has played every minute of every game for a Leeds side who boast the third best defensive record in the Championship this season, and his form has alerted Tottenham.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Tottenham are currently in the midst of a centre-back crisis with Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven and Ben Davies all out injured, leaving former Leeds man Gray needing to fill in there.

Bailey says Spurs are just one of several Premier League clubs taking a look but Leeds are keen to hand him a new deal, which will depend on whether they win promotion.

He said: “Struijk is coming into his prime and has really been under the radar to a lot of people – not Leeds fans – but he is very much on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs.

“A left sided defender and he is real quality and I am told Tottenham are amongst those who have checked on him. Clearly Leeds want him to stay and will look to tie him down to a new deal, but him staying long-term will be dictated by Leeds getting back to the Premier League.”

Struijk could help Archie Gray by making Spurs switch

Leeds have to do all they can to ensure Struijk remains at Elland Road beyond January and it is almost certain the 49ers will do that.

This season will be the best chance Leeds ever have of returning to the Premier League and losing Struijk at the midway point would have a potentially detrimental impact.

However, from Spurs’ perspective, a transfer for Struijk would certainly help their current former Leeds star Gray.

Postecoglou has confirmed Gray will be filling in at centre-back for the foreseeable future while his more senior options recover from injury, but it’s a position he quite simply isn’t comfortable in.

Signing Struijk would give them plenty more depth in central defence and allow Gray into his more favoured position of midfield.

It has been a long time coming but Archie Gray was finally handed his full Premier League debut for Tottenham five months on from his Leeds United exit.

Gray was brought into replace Pedro Porro at right-back for Spurs’ trip to Bournemouth, which is the position he has spent much of his professional career in since breaking through at Leeds.

All seven of Gray’s starts for Spurs prior to Thursday night had come in either the Europa League or Carabao Cup, with minutes considerably harder to come by in the Premier League.

Such was his struggle for game time domestically, there had even been some suggestion Gray could leave Spurs on loan in January, but that won’t be happening.

In fact, Ange Postecoglou’s comments on Gray after last week’s 2-2 draw with AS Roma show how highly he is rated at Spurs despite that not necessarily being reflected on the pitch yet.

Spurs media rate Gray’s full Premier League debut

Unfortunately for Gray, his full Premier League debut won’t be one he remembers too fondly as Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth.

Gray was coming up against former Leeds teammate Tyler Adams at the Vitality Stadium and it would be fair to say it was a dominant performance by the home side, even if the score-line didn’t show it.

Bournemouth missed chance after chance to put the game to bed and Spurs fans certainly recognised the nature of their sub-par performance, with both the players and Postecoglou receiving plenty of criticism from the away end at full-time.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

However, according to Football.London, Gray is one of the players who can hold his head up high, particularly considering it was his first start.

Around the hour-mark, Gray was forced to fill in at left-centre back after Ben Davies’ injury and so was praised for giving ‘everything’ in an unnatural position.

They wrote: “Archie Gray – The 18-year-old raced back to make a perfect sliding challenge on the breaking Kluivert in the first half. Switched to playing as the left centre-back after Davies went off. He gave everything in an unnatural role for him. 6.”

Gray could start at centre-back vs Chelsea

Centre-back certainly wasn’t a role Gray every played during his time at Leeds, but clearly Postecoglou feels he has the attributes in his locker to do it fairly well.

And Gray may well have to do so again on Sunday when Spurs face Chelsea, with Davies joining both Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero on the sidelines.

If none of those three players are fit to return in time, Postecoglou may be left with no other choice than to play Gray, who will be tasked with marking the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.

It has to be said, it is difficult to see how this move to Spurs has really aided his development considering his best position remains midfield, and he just won’t ever get the chance to play there.

Archie Gray’s agent Hayden Evans has spoken for the first time on the circumstances surrounding his move from Leeds United to Tottenham in the summer.

Gray made the £40 million switch to Spurs in early July, which was around the time the summer transfer window sparked into life for a few days due to the end of football’s financial year.

All reports were suggesting Leeds were among the clubs needing to make a sale at that point in order to remain compliant with PSR, and Gray being a product of the academy meant he would represent pure profit on the books. Leeds all but confirmed that in an official statement.

Gray’s camp were reportedly frustrated at Leeds‘ handling of the situation back in the summer, as he had actually been in no rush to leave despite the failure to win promotion.

At the time, of course, it had looked as though Gray was on his way to Brentford until Tottenham swooped in at the 11th hour, which does seem to suggest Leeds were actively shopping him around.

Hayden Evans clarifies role of Leeds’ finances in Gray deal

Gray’s agent Hayden Evans has now spoken for the first time on his client’s Elland Road exit on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast.

One of the key topics up for discussion was around the ‘financial imperative’ for Gray to leave Leeds, amid such lengthy debate about the club’s finances during the summer.

However, Evans has insisted he would never force one of his clients into a transfer purely because of a club’s financial situation, suggesting that would be ‘their problem’, and not his.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

As such, Evans claimed the only reason Gray did not stay at his boyhood club was their failure to win promotion to the Premier League.

He said: “I don’t think it was so much a financial imperative, because that’s the club’s – this is me being callous as an agent now – that’s a club’s position, and that’s their problem.

“Never would we sell one of our players or move one of our players, because the club said they need the money. I mean, we had one experience of that a long, long time ago, and that was, Batts, funny enough, when basically the club made it absolutely clear he had to go to save the club.

“But no, I think it was more a case of if we’d have been successful in the 90 minutes at Wembley, and gone up, actually was going nowhere. Just as simple as that. It was purely because we didn’t make the Premier League.”

Evans shares thoughts on Gray’s Spurs game time

Another topic Evans was asked is Gray’s current game time. He has played the full 90 minutes of all seven of Tottenham’s matches in cup competitions, but is still yet to start in the Premier League.

Evans has revealed Archie’s dad Andy was the one in charge of negotiations with Spurs regarding his pathway, and confirmed it is not too dissimilar to what was agreed in the summer.

He said: “Andy’s negotiation with Spurs, it was sort of made clear the pathway, and that was not about the money, it was the pathway more than anything else, and that suited Andy for his son. And I think that’s been fulfilled, because certain people will say, look, he’s not getting any minutes.

“He was never going to get 90 minutes in a top-six Premier League side, but what he is getting is 90 minutes in all their European adventures. So he’s playing the Romas of this world and getting full 90 minutes, and he’s getting on now and again with Spurs. So far, so good, I think.”

Since leaving Leeds United, Archie Gray hasn’t had the start to life at Tottenham he would’ve wanted, but manager Ange Postecoglou is under no illusion about his future potential.

Gray was handed his seventh start for Spurs on Thursday night as Postecoglou’s side were held to a 2-2 draw in north London by AS Roma in the Europa League.

However, not one of Gray’s starts have come in the Premier League as of yet, with his minutes in that competition so far this season equating to less than a single half of football.

What’s more, Postecoglou has also failed to hand Gray the opportunity to nail down a preferred position. He played left-back last night, but has also featured in central defence, at right-back, and for a handful of minutes, midfield.

Long-term, Gray’s ideal position remains midfield but with so many players ahead of him at Spurs right now, it is difficult to see where the minutes will come for him there.

Postecoglou makes exciting Gray prediction

There had recently been some talk about a potential loan return to Elland Road for Gray, but Spurs have made their stance clear that he will be staying.

Thankfully for Gray, he still very much has time on his side and minutes for him in a competition like the Europa League will still prove valuable.

And despite playing in a plethora of positions, Gray has not only impressed Spurs’ media in the time he has spent on the field, but also his manager Postecoglou.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Speaking to Football.London after Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Roma, Postecoglou spoke of the ‘maturity’ in which Gray plays with at just 18, as well as the excitement he has for his future potential.

He said: “There’s a real maturity at only 18. We asked him to play left-back, he has never played that position in his life but does it with a real efficiency & calmness.

“I am so excited by Archie and that’s another positive for us that we have another 18-year-old who just plays and no one mentions that he is 18, they just measure his performance and, like I said, I am asking him to do different jobs.

“It would probably be more comfortable for him if he was settled in one position but he is playing football at a really high level in Europe and the Premier League.

“That’s going to set us up really well for the player that he is going to become. I thought Lucas [Bergvall] was really good when he came on last night, he made an impact. With everything else we’re building, there is some real excitement around the young players as well.”

Tottenham media verdict on Gray performance

It was quite a difficult night for Spurs defensively and in the first half Gray was coming directly up against Roma’s best player Paulo Dybala.

However, Football.London shared the same opinion as Postecoglou regarding Gray’s performance in their post-match player ratings.

Gray was particularly praised for some of the crosses he delivered with his left-foot, that should really have resulted in his first assist for the club when Dominic Solanke headed against the post.

Over the course of the next six months, Leeds United are likely going to be linked with a plethora of different left-back options with Junior Firpo’s contract expiring next June.

Graeme Bailey has informed LeedsUnited.News that Firpo will not sign a new deal until he knows what division Leeds will be in next season. If promoted, The Dominican Republic ace could extend his contract.

Obviously, Leeds would like to keep Firpo. The former Barcelona man has been immense during Daniel Farke’s stewardship with the German getting the best out of Firpo since he came into the Leeds side.

But there is a real concern he could be off and Leeds are being linked with left-backs to replace him. One is Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin, while Leeds are also said to be interested in Sweden star Daniel Svensson.

Tottenham star Ben Davies was linked with Leeds move this year

In January, Leeds were linked with just about every Welsh player. The contingent at Elland Road is getting bigger, with Karl Darlow choosing to play for Wales and Charlie Crew breaking into Craig Bellamy’s side.

Alongside Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James, Leeds signed Connor Roberts in January on loan. He has left, but in the most-recent winter window, Leeds were also linked with Tottenham’s Ben Davies.

The £100k-a-week defender has spent the last decade at Spurs, but has entered the final year of his Spurs deal. However, The Athletic report that Spurs intend to trigger the 12-month extension in his contract.

Ben Davies is struggling for game time at Tottenham this term

Much like Archie Gray, Davies is being used as a Cup player by Ange Postecoglou this season. Whether that is at left-back, or in the middle of the defence with Davies renowned more for his defensive quality.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

His game time in the Premier League is slowly being reduced and even if he does trigger an extension, will Davies actually want to remain at Spurs even for another season after this one? Perhaps, he won’t.

It is quite clear that over the last two seasons, Davies is only being used as a back-up player at Tottenham. We are closing in on the halfway point of the season and Davies has played twice in the Premier League.

So, even if the clause in Davies’ contract is triggered, he might remain an option for Leeds next summer. But, any chance of luring another Welshman in Davies to Elland Road will depend on promotion this term.

Manor Solomon was given a surprise start by Daniel Farke on Sunday afternoon but the winger repaid the Leeds United manager by scoring a brace in an enthralling 4-3 win over Leeds United.

Solomon scored his first two goals for Leeds, Leeds’ first and third, either side of an own goal and prior to a Wilfried Gnonto winner that came in injury time, a couple of minutes after Swansea had equalised.

Swansea took the lead through Harry Darling, before Liam Cullen cancelled out Solomon’s first to put the Welsh side 2-1 up. Ben Cabango could not do anything but score an own goal, but Solomon made it 3-2.

Florian Bianchini equalised for Swansea on 90 minutes, before Gnonto netted a winner a few moments later. A 4-3 win, that sees Leeds sit at the top of the Championship table, securing a ninth win from 16.

How Tottenham fans reacted to Manor Solomon’s two Leeds goals

Two close-range finishes, Solomon finally got his name on the score sheet for the first time in 14 months. His first goal since September 2023, scoring for Israel before his move to Tottenham the summer prior.

Solomon only managed six outings for Spurs before tearing his meniscus. Now fit again, he is out on loan at Leeds to build up his fitness and help the Whites go up. After his brace, Tottenham fans had their say.

One Spurs fan said: “He’s better than Werner”, as most Tottenham fans considered the possibility of a return for Solomon with the London club likely to have a recall clause come the January transfer window.

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Another supporter of the North London club said “Ange will bring him back in January and we’ll be better in terms of depth.” One thinks he can have a “future” at Tottenham, if he continues to score goals.

With Spurs star Wilson Odobert injured, one suggested that bringing Solomon in January might actually aid the lack of options in Ange Postecoglou’s squad, “a good option”.

Why there is little chance of Solomon returning to Tottenham

Leeds have four wingers in the form of Solomon, Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James and Largie Ramazani. All four have shown quality moments throughout the campaign so far, all at least scoring on two occasions.

But at Tottenham, Postecoglou has a number of wide men on the books. Even with Dejan Kulusevski going into the middle, Postecoglou has Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Richarlison and Mikey Moore.

Even players out on loan are likely to have more of a future at Spurs than Solomon including the likes of Bryan Gil and Alejo Veliz. If Spurs need a winger in January, which is unlikely, Solomon is not that man.

It has been an excellent international break when it comes to the Leeds United players involved with their countries, as 13 of Daniel Farke’s squad travelled to represent their countries.

Junior Firpo helped The Dominican Republic qualify for the 2025 Gold Cup for the first time, laying on two assists in a 6-1 win over Bermuda. Mateo Joseph scored his sixth goal in seven games for Spain’s U21’s.

Elsewhere, Max Wober returned to the pitch for the first time since the start of September and Wales kept Craig Bellamy’s start as manager unbeaten with a draw against Turkey and then a 4-1 win over Iceland.

Bellamy called-up four Wales players to his squad for the games, including Charlie Crew, Karl Darlow and Dan James. But it was Joe Rodon that excelled once again, as the centre-back secured his 50th Wales cap.

Tottenham star Ben Davies heaps praise on Leeds man Joe Rodon

In the absence of Aaron Ramsey, Tottenham defender Ben Davies is captaining Wales. Davies has been linked with Leeds in the past, given the growing contingent of Wales stars currently residing in Yorkshire.

With Crew an established member of the Wales squad and Ethan Ampadu injured, Leeds had as many as six Wales players last season with Connor Roberts on loan. Davies though, has remained at Tottenham.

Taking to Instagram following Rodon’s 50th cap and Wales’ 4-1 win, Davies branded Rodon a “warrior” for his performances – not least because Rodon suffered a nasty gash to his head in the draw in Turkey.

His caption read: “Great week away with the boys. Jet2 to Turkey, big win at home and 50 caps for the Welsh warrior Joe Rodon.”

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES

Joe Rodon’s remarkable stats for club and country after 22 games

Praise has been aplenty for Rodon this week. Bellamy said there aren’t many better than Rodon, while Leeds teammate James thinks Rodon can go and reach a whopping 100 caps for Wales in years to come.

Rodon’s stats for club and country this season:

Rodon has played every single minute of every possible game he could have played for Leeds and Wales this season and is arguably, in the form of his life. If Leeds are to get promoted, that must continue.

Rodon, James and Joel Piroe will all face their old side in Swansea City on Sunday afternoon when Leeds return to action, the first of five games in the space of 16 days as we approach the busy Christmas period.