Even after a late flurry of activity, Leeds United’s transfer window still very much has a bitter-sweet feeling to it.
Thankfully, Leeds are in a position again where their squad is strong enough to push for promotion, but there certainly were some bumps in the road.
The first two weeks of August could not have been any more tumultuous at Elland Road as they failed to win any of their opening three matches in all competitions, as well as selling both Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.
Summerville and Rutter’s sales were made all the more frustrating by what Leeds said in their Archie Gray exit statement, in which it was suggested they would be in a better position to keep other key men.
And while losing those three have hugely weakened the squad, the four late additions of Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schmidt have helped soften the blow.
Former Leeds star Archie Gray compared with Gerrard
All three of Gray, Summerville and Rutter’s departures hurt for different reasons, but it was the former whose really caused a real uproar on social media.
49ers Enterprises received all sorts of criticism once it became public knowledge he would be sold to Brentford, though it was Tottenham who he opted to join in the end.
Gray is undoubtedly one of, if not the best player to come from Leeds’ academy since James Milner over 20 years ago, and so to only see him in the first team for one season was gutting.
Reflecting on Leeds’ summer window exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey believes it cannot be reflected on too positively due to selling a talent he feels can be as good as Steven Gerrard.
He said: “Obviously, Leeds will be limited in what rating you can give them [on the window] because they lost Archie Gray. Losing someone who could’ve been the head of a golden generation at Leeds. With Red Bull’s deal, did Leeds really need to lose Gray? I am not convinced and I am gutted for Leeds fans.
“There will be some younger Leeds fans who won’t even realise he’s not a right back. He could be the new Steven Gerrard, he’s that good. I love Archie Gray. Daniel Farke probably knew that as well and I think he was gearing up to play him in midfield this season. That’s what I am hearing anyway, that he would have.”
How has Archie Gray fared at Tottenham since leaving Leeds?
Gray did not take long to make an impact at Tottenham, with his performances during pre-season drawing praise from Ange Postecoglou.
Having said that, perhaps unsurprisingly, Gray has not yet managed to establish himself as a first team regular.
After coming off the bench in Spurs’ opening two league games, Gray was an unused sub in the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United on Sunday.
Once Spurs’ Europa League campaign kicks off after the international break, Gray may well start getting more involvement as the games come thick and fast.
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