Leeds United look set to be in for a summer of difficult decisions but journalist Graeme Bailey believes they have already made a really bad one.
It was always clear after Leeds’ play-off final defeat to Southampton that it was going to be difficult to keep the squad together for another season of Championship football.
Clubs receive a reduction in parachute payments in their second season after relegation from the Premier League, and that is the situation Leeds are having to deal with.
The loss of revenue means Leeds have to find new ways in order to remain compliant with PSR, one of which was agreeing the most lucrative sponsorship deal in EFL history with Red Bull.
However, that was never going to be enough on its own and so player departures have dominated the headlines in terms of the transfer window so far at Elland Road.
Graeme Bailey makes ‘horror story’ claim about Archie Gray
Providing Charlie Cresswell’s move to Toulouse goes through as expected, Leeds will have lost three Thorp Arch academy graduates in the space of just a week.
Archie Gray’s move to Tottenham Hotspur was the first to be announced, with Jamie Shackleton’s free transfer to Sheffield United quick to follow.
It is almost 12 months to the day in which 49ers Enterprises officially received EFL ratification of a full takeover of Leeds, and last weekend will undoubtedly have been the toughest yet.
They received an incredible amount of backlash in response to the news that Gray was on the verge of leaving his boyhood club after just a season for Brentford.
That discontent was split into those who were just gutted to see him go, but also the fact he was moving to a club like Brentford, with all due respect.
In the end, Gray ended up opting to join Spurs instead as Leeds were left with little choice but to sell due to PSR concerns.
Speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, though, journalist Bailey believes Leeds have made a huge mistake by selling Gray at this stage of his career, and thinks it will be one they regret.
He said: “The Archie Gray one is a horror story. I think Leeds, there is PSR concerns but Leeds have made a massive mistake to be honest. He was the crown jewel and one player they shouldn’t have sold.
“Leeds could have moved on anyone else in that club other than Archie Gray. It’s a wrong decision, a bad decision and one Leeds will come to regret over the next decade.”
- READ MORE: Archie Gray and Sammie Szmodics react to latest transfer news out of Leeds United on Thursday
Gray exit a summary of modern day football
Heading into the window, Gray was the one player Leeds supporters did not want to lose. However, it is a good summary of the modern game that his departure will help the club.
Paraag Marathe could give no guarantee Gray would stay when asked about his future at the beginning of June, and did say fan reaction would be taken into account when making decisions.
However, due to Leeds’ need to sell before June 30, and a lack of interest in their other players, they were ultimately backed into a corner.
The fact a generational teenaged talent like Gray now simply has to be described as ‘pure profit’ shows the state in which the sport is currently in.
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