Brentford are on the verge of signing Leeds United’s teenage midfielder Archie Gray after agreeing a fee that could rise to £40 million with add-ons.
The 18-year-old is expected to undergo a medical after Brentford met Leeds’ asking price, which would make Gray a record signing for the west London club.
A host of Premier League and European teams have shown interest in the talented midfielder, but Brentford have positioned themselves as the frontrunners and are now working to finalise the deal.
If all goes according to plan on the player’s side, Brentford are expected to reach an agreement with Leeds for a fee around £35 million.
Interest from other clubs remains strong, and Leeds are not keen to lose such a highly-rated talent. However, their financial situation might force them to reluctantly sanction his exit.
The England Under-21 international enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Leeds last season, making 28 appearances in all competitions. He was a regular in both midfield and at right-back, contributing significantly as Daniel Farke’s side reached the play-off final.
Talks are ongoing, but Gray is being allowed to negotiate directly with Brentford. The club aims to complete the move before the English Football League’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) deadline on 30 June.
Leeds, having narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League after losing to Southampton in the Championship play-off final, will need to sell players in the close season.
Securing Gray’s signature would be a major coup for Brentford, especially with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham also believed to be interested in the West Yorkshire club’s academy graduate. Gray was nearly ever-present for Leeds last season, featuring in 52 matches across all competitions, primarily in midfield but occasionally filling in at right-back.
Manager Thomas Frank is set to begin pre-season preparations with Brentford next week, following a successful campaign where he guided the team away from the relegation zone in May. Adding a player of Gray’s calibre would bolster the squad as they look to build on last season’s achievements.