Leeds United News

There was more success for Archie Gray on Monday night as the Tottenham Hotspur star helped England’s U21 side beat Portugal after a brilliant first season since leaving Leeds United.

Having clocked up more than 50 games for Leeds in his first season in the senior side at Elland Road, Gray was sacrificed by the club in order to balance the books. Crysencio Summerville also left for West Ham.

Not many could have predicted Gray to play as much as he did at Leeds, at Tottenham this season. The youngster has clocked up 38 games for Spurs with Ange Postecoglou’s men still in the Europa League.

With nine Premier League games to play and possibly another five in the Europa League, Gray could conceivably surpass the 52 appearances he made for Leeds in 2023-24 and his form has caught the eye.

Djed Spence heaps praise on Archie Gray after Leeds United exit

Indeed, his form has impressed many given Gray is largely playing out of position at centre-back. Even right-back is not his natural role – with Ange Postecoglou finally playing Gray in midfield last time out.

Postecoglou was criticised for moving Gray into defence at 0-0. Fulham went on to win 2-0 against Spurs, after Gray was moved but he continues to impress, with Djed Spence the latest to applaud the teenager.

On Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube, Spence made a big prediction: “The sky is the limit for him. I forget he’s 18 [now 19] sometimes. He’s a midfielder playing centre-back and he’s doing well. A great talent.”

Archie Gray is starring for Tottenham but some feel sorry for him

There was even talk of a possible England call-up, but Gray has remained with the 21’s who won 4-2 on Monday night against Portugal. Gray started and lasted 71 minutes before the midfielder was replaced.

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Despite his solid showing, there are some that feel sorry for him. Former Leeds defender Ferdinand says he feels sympathy for Gray as he continues to be played in a different position since his move to Spurs.

Archie Gray continues to shine in the Premier League after his £30million move from Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur last summer. He’s just claimed a very prestigious accolade.

Leeds United fans continue to keep tabs on Archie Gray as he shines in the Premier League. And his first season in the top flight has certainly been an impressive one, too.

The Leeds academy graduate has been playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role with Spurs. But Gray has shone, with Spurs fans hailing Gray’s recent performance in the 1-0 defeat against Man City where he went up against Erling Haaland.

Since, Gray has been named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards. It’s a testament to how well he’s taken to the Premier League and how well he’s taken to his new role under Ange Postecoglou.

Meanwhile at Elland Road, the Whites are well on track to be joining Gray in the big time next year. Daniel Farke has his side sitting in 1st place of the Championship table ahead of another tough game against West Brom on Saturday.

Archie Gray makes brilliant Daniel Farke and Ange Postecoglou comparison

Speaking after accepting his Young Player of the Year award, Gray reminisced about his time playing for Leeds United last season. That year he played in numerous different positions under Farke, including right-back.

Speaking about the Championship and about how Farke played him in different roles, similar to how Postecoglou is now, Gray explained in an interview with Sky Sports: “Being from Leeds and being there, since forever really, I’m grateful for every experience. It was a similar thing with Daniel Farke, him trusting me in a different position, and I’m grateful for every opportunity that he put me on the pitch.

“It prepared me well, the Championship. It’s got so many games and it’s such a physical league, coming against different teams and stuff like that, it prepares you well for the Premier League.”

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Daniel Farke has unearthed the next Archie Gray at Leeds United

Gray was certainly a loss for Leeds United last season. But Farke replaced him in the very same transfer window, so he thinks, recent comparing Ao Tanaka to Gray.

Speaking about how the two players are very similar in their roles on the pitch, Farke said: “I think overall, it’s important he’s in a central role. You have to lead and make sure they are all on the same page. Football is one language that everyone understands.

“To lead by example on the pitch with good performances is what we expected. A player like Archie Gray last season at 18 when in a central role (did this). Of course, Tanaka is not the biggest leader in terms of speaking but he plays a crucial role.”

To see Gray flourishing in the top flight is an ode to the Leeds academy, and it should give those in the academy now the inspiration needed to push on into the first-team at Elland Road, and beyond.

Names like Sam Chambers could be next in line to make their mark on the first-team, though promotion might see several more youngsters loaned out, possibly to the Championship.

Not content with snatching Archie Gray, the apple of Leeds United fans’ eye, the Tottenham Hotspur faithful are now wondering how they could benefit from the desire to keep Manor Solomon at Elland Road.

A desire shared, it appears, by Leeds United and the player himself.

Manor Solomon has kept the door ajar for Leeds to sign him on a permanent basis this summer, on the back of an exceptional loan spell from the Premier League giants.

The swivelling, slaloming Solomon should end the campaign with double digits in both the goals and assists column, while becoming arguably the most popular Elland Road loanee since Ben White in that promotion-winning season under Marcelo Bielsa.

Solomon dreams of playing Premier League football again, meanwhile, his spells at Fulham and Tottenham interrupted by injury. With Leeds now having a 95.3 per cent chance of promotion – at least, according to those Opta number crunchers – he can do just that without having to pack up his belongings and search for another new home away from West Yorkshire.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon keen to stay at Leeds United

“In my mind, I want to get back to the Premier League where I belong,” Solomon said recently. “That is my goal. I understood that the best way to get back to myself and get back to the Premier League is to go to Leeds.

“A club like Leeds, I think, must get into the Premier League. And that’s a very, very big goal for the team and for me. It’s something that I really, really want. I really, really want to get to the Premier League.

“It’s a big goal. So I’m trying to help as much as I can so that we can get to the Premier League, because I really want it.”

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Talking about what people ‘really want’, it seems that the Tottenham Hotspur faithful are pretty keen to get their mitts on one of Leeds’ rising stars in a possible exchange deal which would see Solomon stay at Elland Road.

Charmed by the versatility, maturity and technical qualities of Archie Gray – a bright spark in a poor season for Spurs – the emergence of his younger brother in the Leeds academy has not gone unnoticed.

Harry Gray scored a brace as Leeds’ U18s beat Derby County last weekend. A 16-year-old who plays as a centre-forward – perhaps the only position his older sibling is yet to be utilised in at senior level – one-time Leeds prospect and former Tottenham stalwart Aaron Lennon could not speak highly enough of Harry Gray when highlighting the teenager’s ‘frightening’ potential.

“I don’t want to talk about him too much because I think everyone will want him, he’s that good!” Lennon quipped. “He’s probably the best thing I’ve seen in years.”

With Leeds looking to strike a deal to keep hold of Solomon, then, this is all the motivation the Spurs faithful need to encourage a move that would see the Gray brothers reunited down south.

Spurs fans sense a Harry Gray chance amid Solomon uncertainty

“I’m sure something like Harry Gray plus £10 million will end up being the deal as the two clubs continue to developed the relationship,” one hopeful supporter writes on X.

“Swap him with Harry Gray,” says another, while one parrots; “Swap him with Archie’s brother.”

“Shame because I really like him. But, if we could get a deal with Harry Gray, that would be good”

“Solomon plus money = Harry Gray please,” one supporter adds, perhaps more in hope than expectation.

At this stage, Tottenham’s demands for Solomon remain a mystery. If Harry Gray’s name is brought up in the discussions, however, Leeds will face a dilemma between protecting their future and enhancing their present.

It would be no surprise if Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie Gray was included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad – but the stats show a Leeds United player is more deserving than Gray.

The 18-year-old has been a regular in Tottenham’s starting line-up over the last few months largely due to the enormous injury crisis plaguing Ange Postecoglou’s squad. Gray has largely played at centre-back.

He has also featured at right-back and left-back which has left Ally McCoist feeling sorry for the teenage Spurs star. Gray could be included in Tuchel’s squad when England take on Albania and Latvia in March.

Tuchel is said to be open to delving into the Championship when it comes to picking his England squad and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is sure to be in the mix, given Burnley’s incredible defence.

Leeds player is more deserving of England call-up than Gray

But according to a new report from the CIES Football Observatory, they say a Leeds United player is actually more deserving of an England call-up over Gray in the form of on-fire defender Jayden Bogle.

The CIES, renowned for their incredible amount of data and stats, ran a report identifying 10 English players under the age of 25 yet to win an England call-up that are deserving of a place in Tuchel’s side.

Fourth on that list is Bogle, given his wonderful form at Elland Road over the last few months. He is ahead of Gray, who sits eighth in the list with the Tottenham man a regular for England’s U21 side these days.

CIES Football Observatory’s top 10 U25 Englishman deserving of first Three Lions call-up:

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What Junior Firpo said about Jayden Bogle after Watford win

Given Gray largely played at right-back for Leeds last season, it is ironic that Bogle was brought in as a £5m replacement for the Tottenham talent. But if anything, Bogle has improved on Gray at Elland Road.

While Gray’s ceiling is obviously higher than Bogle’s, the current Leeds no.2 is a better option on the right of the defence compared to Gray in his first senior season last term. He has had a hand in six goals.

Leeds United sit at the top of the Championship table after a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday with the club 10 games unbeaten – but it is a different story for Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Farke’s men look good for promotion, even if Farke was angry at times on Sunday during the 3-0 win. On-loan Tottenham star Manor Solomon opened the scoring, before two late goals won the match.

But at Tottenham, it is a different story. Archie Gray scored an own goal as Spurs suffered a 3-2 defeat to Everton on Sunday, leaving Spurs winless in the Premier League since December 15 and sitting 15th.

One player currently on the books at Tottenham is a target for Leeds over the course of the next two weeks. That man is Ben Davies, with Leeds keen on doing a deal for Davies with his deal ending in June.

Ben Davies admits ‘toughest period’ at Tottenham since 2014

A teammate to five players on the Leeds books at National Team level, 92-time Wales star Davies finally made his return from injury on Sunday and saw out the entire 90 minutes against David Moyes’ Everton.

Speaking after his side suffered a 3-2 defeat at Goodison Park, Davies admits Tottenham are enduring their worst period since he joined Spurs for £10m from Swansea more than a decade ago back in 2014.

“It is probably the toughest period since I’ve been at the club. We’ll see the players who are willing to fight and show they really care about this. It is a tough time for the club and squad,” Davies told BBC.

“We need people who will really fight. I see the work we put in every day. Everyone is hurting. It is a very difficult period and we’re hurting too like the fans,” the defender continued, amid reports Leeds are keen.

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Ben Davies stance on Leeds United move in January window

It feels a pretty ambitious move. But, one thing is for sure, Davies is well-liked at Leeds not just among his Wales teammates but by Leeds too given Leeds have been linked in the recent-past with signing Davies.

Ben Jacobs said last week that Davies would actually be keen on a move to Leeds, even on a temporary basis. But the chances of Tottenham allowing him to leave in the next fortnight is incredibly small.

Indeed, Tottenham’s injury list meant they had 11 fit players on Sunday and Richarlison, who England ace James Maddison is nowhere near ready to start. Spurs won’t be selling until players are back from injury.

It makes sense then, that Davies is more of a target for the summer given his contract situation. By then, Spurs will have players back and the chances of him signing a new deal seem slim, and Leeds could move.

Leeds United are eyeing an ambitious move to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies with the left-back’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Tottenham defender Ben Davies in the past and it comes as no surprise given that five Wales players are currently at Elland Road, including former Spurs man Joe Rodon.

This month, Leeds have been linked with Davies again who is one name on a long list of players currently injured at Tottenham. But the Wales international has entered the last six months of his current contract.

It has been claimed that Leeds are ‘pushing hard’ to sign Davies before the close of the January deadline and in fact, a ‘cut-price’ deal could be organised. Now, Tottenham are planning for life without Davies.

Leeds receive boost in pursuit of Ben Davies signing

That is according to reports from Caught Offside. They claim that Tottenham are one of a number of clubs including signing Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu, with the Denmark player attracting plenty of interest.

The report states that not only Spurs are showing interest in Dorgu, but the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and other European clubs want to land the 20-year-old talent. Dorgu is rated at a fee of £42m by Lecce.

But Tottenham’s interest in Dorgu and possibly, other up-and-coming left-backs shows that Spurs are planning for life without Davies and a move this month could allow Leeds to find success in signing him.

Leeds fans will be excited by Jarrod Bowen’s Davies verdict

Davies has clocked up almost 350 appearances for Tottenham and is a household names when it comes to England’s top tier. While he is in his thirties, Davies would be an incredible signing for this Leeds side.

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A player with huge experience and Premier League know how is something Leeds lack significantly. If the club get promoted, having a player like Davies will go a long way to avoiding relegation during 25-26.

Daniel Farke has made it clear on a few occasions he expects Leeds United to have a quiet January transfer window, but according to the rumour mill – The Whites are working behind the scenes.

While Daniel Farke hinted at the need for a striker, he said last week he expects a quiet window at Elland Road. So far, the only news to emerge is striker Joe Gelhardt’s imminent move to local rivals Hull City.

Charlie Crew is also expected to leave Leeds on loan before the February 3 deadline. But according to recent reports, it might be a case of one Wales international leaving but another one joining the club.

Leeds are ‘pushing strongly’ to sign Wales defender Ben Davies

Leeds have been linked with Davies before. The experienced Spurs star has now spent more than 10 years at Spurs, nine games shy of reaching 350 Tottenham appearances but his contract is due to end in June.

Now, Leeds are interested in Davies again with the Spurs left-back once describing Leeds as a “massive club”. Max Wober’s injury issues and Junior Firpo’s contract situation makes Davies a viable target.

TeamTalk deliver a new update and say that Leeds are actually ‘pushing strongly’ to sign Davies before the end of the January deadline. The report also claims that a ‘cut-price’ deal is on the cards to sign Davies.

What Joe Rodon said about Wales teammate Ben Davies in 2022

Leeds currently boast five Wales internationals including Crew. Joe Rodon is another, along with captain Ethan Ampadu, winger Dan James and goalkeeper Karl Darlow while Connor Roberts left Leeds in June.

Speaking about his 92-time Wales teammate back in 2022, Rodon shared how Davies loves a 50-50 and described a tackle with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as one of the best things he’s seen on a football pitch.

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“I’ve seen this guy go into 50-50s and he comes out with everything, shin pads, boots, everything. A prime example, him and Hojbjerg going in for a 50-50, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Ben won.”

Tottenham’s hefty injury list has seen Archie Gray playing at centre-back in recent weeks, so it might be that Leeds have to wait for Spurs to get some players back before they consider selling the defender.

The rumours continue to circle around Leeds United with the January transfer window in full flow and even though Daniel Farke expects a quiet window, reports suggest different.

It has been claimed that despite Farke’s comments, Leeds are in the market for four new signings. Indeed, The Whites want a full-back, a central defender, a midfielder and a striker before the February 3 deadline.

Plenty of players have been linked with moves to Leeds, from all over the world including beyond Europe. Some players reside in the Championship and many are currently on the books in the Premier League.

Leeds are being touted with a move for a player that has recently described Farke’s side as a “massive” club, and has plenty of connections with the Whites given he currently plays with a handful of them.

Ben Jacobs says Leeds United could sign Ben Davies this month

Leeds have been linked with Ben Davies in the past, and now the Tottenham star finds himself in the final six months of his Spurs contract. Now, Leeds are said to be interested in signing Davies, once again.

The chances of Tottenham letting a player leave seem unlikely given their incredible amount of injuries in recent weeks. So much so, Archie Gray has been playing in the middle of the defence for his new club.

Ben Jacobs told The Last Word on Spurs podcast: “Ben Davies, I think he will also be gone. The natural thing is to run down the contract. Leeds remain interested. Could be one to watch in the coming weeks.”

Ben Davies would be a sensational January addition at Leeds

Like Davies, Junior Firpo finds himself out of contract in the summer. Promotion might not even tempt Leeds or Firpo to agree on a new deal and the chances are, as things stand, that Firpo leaves on a free.

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But with Djed Spence playing at left-back for Tottenham and Gray on the left side of the defence, which are Davies’ two positions, the chances are that Ange Postecoglou will want to keep him until the summer.

Manor Solomon has had quite an eventful loan spell at Leeds United so far this season. On the whole though, the Spurs loan man has been a welcome addition for Daniel Farke, with the Israeli having become a key player of late.

The last few weeks have been quite up and down for Leeds United. In particular, the last couple of results have left many wanting more from the Whites, but Spurs loan man Manor Solomon has been a constant threat in games.

Particular in the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day, Solomon was a threat. But Solomon was left fuming after he was substituted in the second half, as Daniel Farke eyed a change in shape.

The 25-year-old Solomon then claimed an assist in the following game against Hull City, with three goals and five assists in his 19 Championship appearances for Leeds who remain in 1st place of the table as things stand.

The chances of Leeds United signing Manor Solomon revealed

Solomon is only on loan at Leeds United until the end of the 2024/25 season. And it’s thought that Leeds don’t have an option to buy Solomon, who joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2023 on a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Speaking to Leeds United News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has discussed the chances of Leeds signing Solomon on a permanent deal during the summer, explaining how Solomon could potentially play his way to a permanent Elland Road stay.

Bailey said: “I think Jack Harrison will be back at Leeds in the summer, so Solomon will be one for the summer. He will dictate that, if he plays a leading part in promotion there’s a fair chance Leeds sign him. It’s on him.”

Manor Solomon discusses his Leeds United future

Solomon recently gave a lengthy interview to The Athletic. He discussed a number of topics including whether or not he’d be open to staying at the club beyond this season.

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And it seems as though the flying winger would certainly be open to the possibility. He said: “I love it here. I love the fans. I love the club. I love the players, the manager. Especially now, I’m really enjoying it and I love living here. Of course, it’s different to London, less things to do and we have less friends here. All the Israelis, they live in London, but we found our place here.

“You can’t predict what will happen in the future, whether I come back to Tottenham, whether I go to a different team, or whether I stay here in Leeds, you can’t predict it, but, of course, for me, the door is really open.”

Right now, Farke will be focused on who he can sign here and now, in this January transfer window, and then on securing promotion to the Premier League. Leeds take on Harrogate Town in the FA Cup third round on Saturday evening.

Archie Gray was pivotal in a brilliant Tottenham Hotspur win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg, and Ange Postecoglou has been discussing the Leeds United academy product.

It’s now eight games in a row for Archie Gray in the middle of Tottenham’s defence with Postecoglou’s squad suffering from a huge injury list. He’s started six of the last seven Premier League games for Spurs.

Prior to his run in the side at centre-back alongside Radu Dragusin, Gray had failed to start in Tottenham’s first 13 Premier League games. Instead, he was being used in the Europa League and the Carabao Cup.

But now, Gray is starting every game for Spurs and on Wednesday night, he enjoyed arguably his best night in a Spurs shirt with a semi-final victory over Liverpool as Lucas Bergvall scored a late Spurs winner.

Ange Postecoglou raves about Tottenham wonderkid Archie Gray

Such is the extent of Tottenham’s injury list, Spurs had won just two of their previous 11 games. The last game between Spurs and Liverpool ended in a 6-3 Liverpool win, so goals were expected on Wednesday.

That was not the case, as Bergvall scored an 86th-minute winner. Gray helped Spurs keep only a second clean sheet in his run of eight games and after the win, Postecoglou heaped praise on teenager Gray.

“In a position he’s never played mate, you know, he’s never played. An 18-year-old. Name me another Premier League team with two 18-year-olds [Gray and Bergvall], one playing out of position consistently.

“I’m so happy they’re at our club and you know, in two or three years’ time, I just pray to God I’m the beneficiary of their talent, mate. If somebody else is getting it, I won’t be happy,” Postecoglou said.

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Jamie O’Hara was also in awe of Archie Gray’s Tottenham display

Shortly after Gray’s £40m move to Tottenham, Jamie O’Hara was critical of Spurs’ decision to sign Gray for such a big price. But now, it seems the TalkSPORT presenter is impressed: “Archie gray has been superb.”

Whether Gray retains is place in the side remains to be seen, when Cristian Romero, Ben Davies and Micky van de Ven return from injury. Interestingly, Davies has emerged as a transfer target for Gray’s old side.

But Rodrigo Bentancur was taken off early and that has left Spurs even lighter in midfield. It might be that there is a space for Gray in his natural position when other defenders come back into contention at Spurs.