According to the Scottish Daily Mail, Liverpool is exploring a bid to beat Everton, Crystal Palace, and others to the signing of Leeds United wonderkid Archie Gray.
Gray is worth £40 million to the Championship team, according to the newspaper’s print edition [14 November, back page], and it would take a bid of that size to entice him away from Elland Road.
This comes amid claims by Leeds captain Liam Cooper that he is attempting to persuade the 17-year-old to transfer from England to Scotland.
A bright young star
Gray has already made 17 Championship appearances for the Yorkshire club and has established himself as an important part of the first-team structure at Elland Road, prompting interest from Premier League clubs who will now compete for his future.
The caliber of clubs interested in his signature reflects his ability and the promise he has showed in his short professional career, having made his debut in Daniel Farke’s side earlier this season and swiftly established himself as a starter.
Leeds respect him highly as an academy product from a long family line of Leeds players, and they will hope that the hefty demand deters interested parties from pursuing a deal. Everton could be among those that are unwilling to pay such a big amount.
Given the club’s current financial predicament, it’s impossible to imagine the Toffees mounting a bid of that magnitude to get him to Goodison Park, and even if Liverpool are interested, convincing him may be difficult.