Daniel Farke says Leeds ace has the most potential of any player in his position in the Championship

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Leeds United are among one of the youngest sides in this season’s Championship.

Of the players Daniel Farke has used across Leeds’ 45 matches so far, only Sunderland have a younger average age, according to transfermarkt. The Whites’ is at 24.1

When you compare and contrast that to the two sides who are set to finish in the top two in Leicester City and Ipswich Town, it is considerably lower. The former’s is 25.8, with the latter’s 26.4.

Leeds’ push for promotion this season has been, in the main, spearheaded by players who are still very much at the beginning of their professional careers.

Crysencio Summerville, Ethan Ampadu, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray were all recognised for their performances this season at the EFL’s recent awards ceremony and are aged 23 or below.

Summerville scooped the division’s POTS, while Gray was named Championship YPOTS and EFL apprentice of the year. Ampadu and Rutter joined Summerville in the TOTS.

• READ MORE: Get to know Archie Gray, the promising Leeds United star linked with European giants transfer

Farke says no Championship midfielder has more potential than Archie Gray

Unfortunately, as is the nature of young players performing so well, interest is bound to arrive for some of Leeds’ key men, particularly if promotion isn’t achieved.

Summerville and Gray – both of whom are valued higher than Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez – are among those winning admirers from elsewhere.

At 18, Gray is the one in particular whose performances have defied logic, with it incredible to think this is his first season in professional football.

Speaking in his pre-Southampton press conference earlier today, Farke believes his squad could’ve done with more experience this season but says there isn’t a single midfielder in this division with more potential than Gray.

He said: “We are one of the youngest sides in the whole league. My starting midfield at QPR, Gruev is 23, first season here and Archie, 18, first season. I know we are not the finished product and make mistakes or get nervous and over-excited.

“Struggling to criticise my players. I would not swap Archie with anyone in this league. More potential than any player in this league in his position.”

How long does Gray have left on Leeds deal?

As mentioned, players like Gray are bound to attract interest from elsewhere after their performances this season.

Thankfully, though, regardless of whether Leeds go up or not, they are at least in a strong position when it comes to Gray’s future this summer.

It was only in January when Gray put pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal at Elland Road, tying him to the club for the next four years.

That should mean it will take a monumental offer for Leeds to even consider selling him when the window opens next month.