By signing, LIVERPOOL can execute a masterstroke.
Earlier this week, the Daily Mail reported Liverpool’s £40m move for Leeds’ 17-year-old star Archie Gray, just three months after his first-team debut.
The 17-year-old midfielder for Leeds has shown his versatility and talent in the Championship, making him a revelation.
His ability to switch between positions has led to comparisons to Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool, which is not surprising. Since making his debut, Gray—who can also play right-back—has contributed significantly to Leeds’ season in nearly every game.
Grey and Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool have a lot in common, mostly due to their similar athleticism and versatility. Similar to the England player, Grey is said to be attractive to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp because of his versatility.
If Grey is signed by Liverpool, they could find him to be a valuable acquisition in the future due to his clear natural talent and promise. His price tag would be close to £40 million.
What talent, Gray!
In football, fullbacks pushing into midfield is not a completely novel idea. Nonetheless, fullbacks must possess a high degree of technical skill to seamlessly transition between midfield and defense when needed.
In this capacity, Alexander-Arnold has always been used. Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta handled Oleksandr Zinchenko in a similar manner. An inverted full-back helps the attacking team secure the middle of the pitch.
These suggest that Gray is the next Trent Alexander-Arnold that Liverpool has in mind. The versatile England international is regarded by many as one of Europe’s most exciting defenders.
Being a technical midfielder, Gray is excellent at almost anything that helps with possession. passing, retaining the ball, carrying it, etc. He also had fullback skills, as he was proficient in winning duels, making interceptions, and making timely tackles.
He is a fantastic fit for the inverting full-back position because of this, and if Klopp’s Reds are able to get him, they may pull off another brilliant transfer during the transfer window.