Tottenham Hotspur continued to invest in highly regarded young profiles that the club can shape as per Ange Postecoglou’s needs and playing style in the long run, and this policy has got the Spurs faithful buzzing as they managed to land Archie Gray from Leeds United, one of the brightest talents in the country at the moment.
The Lilywhites signed Archie Gray in a deal worth £40m as they swamped for his signatures from under Brentford’s noses to successfully hijack his transfer to London neighbors.
Tottenham’s investment in Gray could pay off big time
The 18-year-old has already been impressing Ange Postecoglou and his staff behind the scenes, and that has been replicated in substitute appearances in the English top tier.
While his departure was a big loss at Elland Road, it is the one many saw coming following his antics in his breakthrough season in the Championship. To put it into perspective, the North Londoners beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to secure his signatures.
Leeds CEO speaks up
Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear, speaking on The Square Ball podcast, said: (via Leeds Live)
“At the time when we did that new contract, Archie Gray could have joined any club in the country. Real Madrid were interested in Archie Gray; Bayern Munich were interested. The way we were able to keep him was threefold.”
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“One, we gave him a rather attractive financial offer that matches what he would have been offered in the Premier League. The second was we levied the pathway into the first team, which we felt he had at Leeds United, and the fact he had a relationship with the club. We also had to construct a contract, which he was happy with and wasn’t going to block what he saw as his natural development. If you don’t do that, you simply lose them. Archie Gray is a player who will ultimately play for Real Madrid
or Bayern Munich.”
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Tottenham have signed a prospect that has a big future, and hopefully he redeems that at North London. However, it is easy to forget he is only eighteen, and he needs time and space to hone his skills and develop into the player that the Lilywhites want him to become.
