Archie Gray is set to swap Leeds for Brentford, with the Premier League club increasingly confident of resisting competition from a number of rivals, Chelsea and Tottenham included, for the 18-year-old’s signature.
Gray is expected to move for a fee of about £35m, potentially rising to £40m, after Leeds apparently resigned themselves to losing the precociously talented midfielder or right-back in order to comply with profitability and sustainability regulations.
Negotiations have advanced as far as agreeing personal terms and pencilling in a medical and Leeds regulars are starting come to terms with the idea of losing one of their brightest prospects.
Gray, the great nephew of the adored former Leeds player and manager Eddie Gray, made 52 appearances in the past season as Daniel Farke’s side narrowly missed out on promotion, losing the Championship play of final to Southampton.
He joined the Leeds academy at eight and has represented England junior teams at every age group up to and including under-21. Gray won the 2023-24 young Championship player of the season award.
Gray, who does not turn 19 until March, was often deployed by Farke at right-back but it is thought he will ultimately establish himself as a central midfielder.
He had been scouted extensively by leading clubs from England and abroad and Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, may be nervous of what represents quite a transfer coup for his club being hijacked.
