Leeds United have produced plenty of the talent littered throughout the Premier League and the EFL over the last few decades.
Fabian Delph and Aaron Lennon were consistent Premier League players for a number of years, while James Milner is one of the greatest Leeds United academy products of recent times, even as a Championship side.
Kalvin Phillips and Lewis Cook are also playing top flight football, but Leeds have other academy graduates that they will hope can make the grade at Premier League level to save the club plenty of cash in the long-term as well.
Harry Gray is the latest in the Gray dynasty to collect first-team experience and for fans to get excited about, just one year after Archie Gray broke through. The Spurs utility man also has an incredibly bright future and is looking to follow in the footsteps of Milner and co.
Archie Gray compared to Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer by Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap
Leeds sold Archie Gray last summer for £40 million to Tottenham Hotspur, with Ange Postecoglou utilising the 19-year-old in a number of different roles this term. He has been deployed at both right and left-back, as well as in central midfield and at centre-back.
He’s perhaps played more minutes than most expected, given a Spurs injury crisis in defensive areas earlier this season. Gray was also almost an ever-present under Daniel Farke, operating as either a central midfield player or a right-back last term.
Now, further praise has emerged regarding his talent level and his potential ceiling. Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap has been a revelation as one of the brightest young centre-forwards in English football this term.
He has spoken to Sky Sports about some of the most naturally gifted teammates he has had so far, having been asked: “We want you to pick out the most talented player you’ve played with?”
Delap responded: “Morgan Rogers, Archie Gray, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer.
“We, obviously, always spoke about what we wanted to do. I think we all wanted to play in the Prem.
“We’ve probably had the debate a million times before with Morgan. He’s probably one of the most argumentative guys I’ve ever met.
“We all knew everyone had so much quality, it was just about going and showing that. I think everyone’s shown that now.
“I think Archie recently, just played with him a few times with England — he’s still so young. There’s so much potential and I’ve played against him a few times this season. He’s so good.
“Morgan — my best mate — he’ll probably kill me for not picking him! But it’s between Jude and Cole, I think.
“I played with Jude when I was growing up at England — and what he’s doing now is incredible. I can’t really not choose him.”
Leeds must not let Harry Gray join Spurs with Archie Gray
Earlier in the summer of 2024, Farke took six youngsters with the Leeds squad to Germany for a pre-season training camp alongside the senior squad. One of those six was a then 15-year-old wonderkid Harry Gray.
Farke has had to speak to Harry Gray regarding keeping his feet on the ground recently, with so much excitement regarding his future. Aaron Lennon believes Harry Gray has the potential to be something really special.
Not only that, but Archie and Harry could reunite at Tottenham, such has been the interest from the Premier League giants. However, Leeds should be fighting tooth and nail to retain him in the short and the long-term.
Now that they are a Premier League outfit again, they stand a much greater chance of keeping hold of their brightest stars. That’s despite the potential of Leeds needing some PSR sales this summer.
