Tottenham Hotspur made headlines when they secured the signatures of Archie Gray from Leeds United as the Lilywhites hijacked a last-minute deal from under Brentford’s noses as they brought the services of possibly England’s brightest talent at the moment in a £40 million transfer. 

Gray’s transfer was a further compound of Daniel Levy’s transfer policy off late, where he prefers to bring in highly acclaimed young players with high potential and integrate them into the culture at Spurs when they are still young. This would not only form a team chemistry but also ensure that head coach Ange Postecoglou can shape the players as per his playing style.

Archie Gray’s versatility sets him apart

Eyebrows were raised and jaws were gasped when the North Londoners sanctioned a move for the 18-year-old for such hefty money, but this also showed that the club isn’t going to shy away from spending when they feel the profile is right. The teenager possesses maturity beyond his years, and his versatile profile means he can feature in a right-back, left-back, centre-back, and number six role as well.

When someone plays in so many positions, it is natural to develop a preference for one role over another; although surprisingly, Archie has no such preferences; he doesn’t want to think about playing in a particular position but rather about excelling on the pitch and becoming a Tottenham great, no matter which space he occupies on the pitch.

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Speaking to The Times, the teenager said:

“Honestly, I don’t care where I play. In our system, you have to be able to play in different positions, not just to cover for people when they’re injured but to be comfortable wherever you are on the pitch.

“A lot of teams demand that now. You have to be open-minded; you can’t be fixed on one thing or one area. Even the incredible players are comfortable wherever they are; that’s how the game is now.”

It is great to see Gray wanting to focus on excelling rather than thinking about what position is best for him. Hoping that we should soon start watching him play regularly for the Lilywhites.

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What poitiosn do you think is the best for the former Leeds United youngster? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.