Derby County and Charlton Athletic face Man City battle in race to sign £40m Leeds United ace | OneFootball

Derby and Charlton had been hoping to sign a 17-year-old star from Leeds on loan in January, but they could face opposition from the Premier League.

Derby County and Charlton Athletic's hopes of signing a 17-year-old wonderkid from Leeds United could be damaged by the news that Manchester City are interested in a permanent deal for him.

A number of Championship clubs, including Derby County and Charlton Athletic, had been put on high alert by the potential availability of a a 17-year-old wonderkid from Premier League Leeds United, but they may have to temper their ambitions a little with further reports suggesting that one of the top-flight's apex predators could be considering a permanent deal for him.

Harry Gray, who's the younger brother of the Spurs midfielder Archie, the son of the former Leeds United striker Andy, the grandson of the Leeds legend Eddie and the great-nephew of another Leeds legend, Frank, had been reported to be potentially available on loan in the January transfer window, but it now seems that Championship clubs hoping to bag this exciting young forward could face opposition from one of the wealthiest clubs of all.

Manchester City are planning a £40 million grab for Leeds starlet Harry Gray

Journalist Alan Nixon reports this morning on Patreon that Manchester City could be set to make a bid to lure £40m-rated Harry Gray to The Etihad Stadium.

Nixon reports that Gray has "been on the City radar for some time", and that they may even attempt a player swap deal in order to secure the services of the young forward, with the former midfielder Kalvin Phillips mentioned as a player who could go in the opposite direction and return to Elland Road.

It's not clear from Nixon's report, whether City would be planning such a raid in January or during the summer, but either way round, such a deal would throw a huge spanner into the works of any hopes that Championship clubs may have had of taking the youngster on loan for the second half of the 2025-26 season.

Manchester City interest could seriously disrupt Championship clubs' loan hopes for Harry Gray

Nixon had reported in November that Leeds United were planning a possible loan move in the January transfer window for Gray, alerting four clubs - Derby County, Charlton Athletic, Hull City and Swansea City - who had all seen him play for Leeds in an EFL Trophy match at Accrington in which he scored.

At that time, Nixon reported that, "Gray’s dad Andy played for Charlton so that might help them, although the last word will be with Leeds and how they plot his future", but a move for the young forward from The Etihad Stadium would completely change the dynamics of where he might end up next.

Gray has only made one League appearance for Leeds United so far, a brief appearance from the bench towards the end of their 6-0 win against Stoke City in April 2025.

The matter at hand will be unlikely to be whether Leeds want to keep hold of the young forward. More important will be the matter of whether the player's head is turned by the possibility of a multi-million pound move which could turbocharge his career.

Harry Gray is already reported to be subject to a tug-of-war over his international status between England and Scotland. It now seems likely that a similar fight could be set to take place over his club career, too.