Leeds United will now be seeking midfield reinforcements following Archie Gray’s transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, but a potential replacement may already be within the club.
Gray’s departure was officially announced today as he signed a six-year deal with Tottenham after a transfer fee of around £40 million was agreed. His move to North London ends his 11-year journey from the academy to the first team at Leeds, serving as an inspiration for young players aiming to break through.
On Instagram, Gray expressed his gratitude to everyone at the club with a heartfelt message and shared memorable photos as both a player and supporter of Leeds.
Gray, who made over 50 appearances for Leeds last season, leaves a significant gap in the squad, necessitating the search for both a right-back and a central midfielder.
Previous comments by Gray about Charlie Crew now gain interest. Leeds might need a versatile midfielder since Gray’s long-term best position is box-to-box, although he was utilized differently last season.
Both Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev have been linked to top-flight moves this summer, with Rennes and Borussia Dortmund showing interest, respectively. While these interests haven’t progressed significantly, Leeds has an internal option ready to step up: Charlie Crew.
Crew was on the bench multiple times at the end of last season, indicating high regard from Daniel Farke and his staff. Crew, now the same age Gray was when he made his debut against Cardiff City nearly a year ago, might use the pre-season to showcase his abilities. Crew earned his first senior cap for Wales last month, and back in April, Gray mentioned both Crew and his younger brother Harry as promising talents from the club’s academy.
Gray stated, “Charlie Crew has been training with us for a few weeks and is a really good player. Then there is my brother [Harry Gray] as well. He’s obviously really good but I don’t want to give him too much praise because he’s my brother and I shouldn’t be doing that. But yeah, I’d go with Charlie Crew.”
Regarding Crew’s potential, Daniel Farke acknowledged Crew’s inclusion in matchday squads towards the season’s end as a sign of his potential. Farke advised caution about Crew’s immediate first-team prospects but affirmed his high potential.
Farke said, “Charlie Crew plays in a similar role, perhaps a bit more offensive but due to his age he can’t fulfil the role Ilia has done. You can’t dictate the rhythm of a side wanting promotion on the back of a few first-team training sessions but he’s a talent full of potential. We try to improve him. We see him as a high potential young player, there’s a long way to go, you can’t take it for granted a 17 year old plays day in day out like Archie. It would be unfair to put the same weight of expectations on Charlie Crew’s shoulders.”
