Tottenham new boss Thomas Frank has no desire to let Archie Gray to leave on loan this summer
Tottenham Hotspur have had a moderately busy summer transfer window, making several signings as they gear up for their return to the Champions League.
Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha are now all on the north London club’s books. The summer acquisitions have left Thomas Frank with a bloated squad, and while several youngsters have been loaned out in the last few weeks, there is still some trimming to be done for potential new faces to walk into the club.
Thomas Frank has assessed his squad over the pre-season fixtures and will further get a clearer picture of players who are surplus to requirements heading into the new campaign. However, one of the players who has been touted as a potential departure is now unlikely to be sent out on loan following a decision by the Danish tactician.
Spurs want to keep Archie Gray
As per The Sun journalist Tom Barclay, Tottenham are not willing to loan out Archie Gray this season.
Regardless of Palhinha’s arrival on loan from Bayern Munich, Thomas Frank is not ready to allow the teenage sensation to leave Spurs on a temporary basis. The Dane is understood to be a huge admirer of the English midfielder’s talent, having tried to sign him during his time as Brentford manager last year.
The new Spurs gaffer was really impressed by Gray’s performance in the 1-1 friendly draw with Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday.
“I also agree on Archie Gray, I’m led to believe there has been no indication that he will be sent out on loan at the moment, but we’ll see on that one,” Tom Barclay told The Tottenham Way podcast.
Archie Gray could develop under Thomas Frank
Frank earned a solid reputation of developing players and young talents during his seven-year spell at Brentford. There is no reason why he could not replicate it at Tottenham, which is a hotbed of highly-rated prospects and academy kids.
The appointment of Frank could massively benefit Gray, who’d have not been happy with how his debut season at N17 panned out despite making 28 Premier League appearances. He was constantly played out of position by former boss Ange Postecoglou due to an injury crisis, but the Durham native could get minutes to showcase his potential in his favoured midfield position.
The England youth international could play alongside Palhinha in a double pivot or as a back-up to the Portugal international, as the Lilywhites look to cover so many games across four competitions in the forthcoming season. All in all, if we are to believe Barclay, Frank has taken a wise decision to not loan out Gray and keep him in his squad.