Leeds United will now be looking for midfield reinforcements following Archie Gray’s move to Tottenham Hotspur, but one could be waiting within.
Gray’s departure from his boyhood club was formally confirmed earlier today, when he signed a six-year contract for a cost of over £40 million.
His relocation to North London ends his 11-year career with the academy and first team, but he continues to serve as an inspiration to others who want to achieve great things.
He posted on Instagram for the first time since the transfer earlier today, accompanied by a long message of appreciation to everyone at the club as well as some fantastic images of himself as a Leeds player and supporter.
Gray made nearly 50 appearances for Leeds last season, and his departure creates a significant gap in the squad, with both a right-back and a central midfielder needed, if they weren’t already.
Gray’s previous statements about Charlie Crew are now interesting.
It would be fascinating to see what type of midfielder Leeds targets, considering Gray’s best long-term position is as a box-to-box player, despite the fact that he was not deployed that way last season.
Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev have also been linked with top-tier moves this summer, with the former coveted by Rennes and the latter by Borussia Dortmund.
At this point, neither appears to have progressed beyond initial curiosity, but Leeds do have someone waiting in the wings from within, Charlie Crew, who is ready to take the next step.
Crew was on the bench on a few occasions near the conclusion of last season, demonstrating how highly he is regarded by Daniel Farke and co.
Crew is now the same age as Gray was when he made his senior debut against Cardiff City over a year ago, and pre-season could provide an opportunity for him to demonstrate his abilities.
He earned his first senior cap for Wales last month, and when Gray spoke about Crew in April, he predicted that he and his younger brother Harry would be the next two players off the club’s production line.
He answered, “Yeah, there’s definitely a lot. Charlie Crew has been training with us for several weeks and is an excellent player. Then there’s my brother, Harry Gray.
“He’s obviously really good, but I don’t want to give him too much credit since he’s my brother, and I shouldn’t be. But, yes, I would go with Charlie Crew.
What did Daniel Farke say about Crew’s potential?
As previously said, Crew was named to a couple matchday teams near the close of the season, and Farke would not have done so if he did not rate him.
When asked about Crew’s chances of first-team action, the Leeds manager recommended caution, but did acknowledge that they consider him as a player with a lot of potential.
He stated: “Obviously, Charlie Crew plays a similar role, albeit a little more attacking, but owing to his age, he cannot fulfill the role Ilia has played. You can’t determine the rhythm of a promotion-chasing side based on a few first-team training sessions, but he’s a talented player with plenty of promise.
“We strive to better him. We regard him as a high-potential young player; there is still a long way to go, and it is not for granted that a 17-year-old plays every day like Archie. It would be unjust to place the same level of expectation on Charlie Crew’s shoulders.
