Liverpool 'preparing bid' for £40m-rated Leeds star

Liverpool are preparing a bid for Leeds United's teenage sensation Archie Gray, according to a report.

The 17-year-old has been one of the breakout stars of the Championship so far this season, featuring 14 times for Daniel Farke's side who side third in the table.

According to the Daily Mail, the young defensive midfielder and right back is being eyed up by several Premier League clubs, with Crystal Palace and Everton 'interested'.

However, it is the Reds who are supposedly reading an offer to take the youngster to Merseyside next summer.

So highly rated is Gray that Leeds value him at between £40-50m, though that may be an unrealistic price tag, especially given his contract is due to expire in 2025.

The current record sale by a Championship club is Romeo Lavia to Chelsea for £58m this summer.

The report notes how Gray – who joined Leeds' academy at the age of nine – has been compared to Liverpool's own Trent Alexander-Arnold due to his athleticism and versatility.

While the young talent has no goal involvements for the Whites so far, only Ethan Ampadu has more completed more tackles than his 31 at the club in the league in 2023/24.

An England Under-19 international, Gray is also the great nephew of Leeds legend Eddie Gray, who represented the club between 1966 and 1983, and the son of two-cap Scotland forward Andy Gray (not the former Sky pundit).

Anfield Watch has reported that Liverpool have been monitoring a number of versatile options who can play in midfield and at full back, including AZ's Japan international Yukinari Sugawara and Genoa's Morten Frendrup.

The Reds also have priority over other suitors in a January deal for Fluminense's Andre Trindade, should they choose to resurrect their summer interest.