Archie Gray is busy preparing for his first North London derby on Wednesday night with the teenager expected to start for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal at The Emirates.
The 18-year-old has been starting week in, week out for Tottenham over the last couple of months. The England U21 ace has been playing as a centre-back, with Ally McCoist saying he feels sorry for Gray.
But he continues to start for Spurs and is attracting plenty of praise for his performances, not least his incredible display in Tottenham’s first-leg Carabao Cup semi-final win over Liverpool last week in London.
His form has been incredible in a position he had not played in, before. Ange Postecoglou says he would be angry if he doesn’t have Gray at his disposal in two or three years time. It has got Leeds fans thinking.
Leeds fans react as Graham Smyth details Archie Gray clause
Graham Smyth was asked if Leeds have a sell-on clause in Gray’s contract, and Smyth responded by saying there is nothing of the sort. Tottenham signed Gray by activating a £40m clause in his Leeds deal.
Such is the case, that Leeds may not have had the option to include a sell-on clause. These days, the inclusion of a sell-on clause in a young, promising player’s new contract at a new club is an obvious one.
But, Leeds did not include it in Gray’s Tottenham deal for one reason or another. Leeds fans have reacted to the news that there is no sell-on clause in Gray’s current contract and it has left many frustrated.
The news has seen fans aim their anger towards Paraag Marathe and Angus Kinnear, while Nick Hammond is starting to come in for criticism at a lack of activity in the January transfer window.
A Leeds fan asked if the club “ever do business right”, while one said “any idea which clown negotiated”. If Leeds did have the option to include a sell-on clause, then why was it not included in the deal?
One supporter suggested that is why Leeds got all £40m “upfront” in the deal for Gray, but that might be simply because Tottenham had to activate the release clause in order for Daniel Farke’s club to sell.
The criticism was aplenty with another of a Leeds persuasion describing the lack of clause as “shocking”, while another asked “which genius agreed to that?”. So, fans are angry and perhaps, need an explanation.
No clause for Archie Gray is a blow to Leeds – but is it really?
If Tottenham chose to sell Gray now, it would only be because another club comes in with a ridiculous offer. Yes, that would see Leeds pocket a lot of money but why would Tottenham sell Gray right now?
Gray has signed a contract until 2030 at Tottenham and the Thorp Arch product is clearly well-liked by the current Spurs manager. But Tottenham will be planning for the long-term around Gray, not without him.
Realistically, Gray is going to be with the London club for many years if Spurs can match his ambitions. Down the line, a Man City or one of Europe’s biggest might come in, but he will stay at Spurs for a while.
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