Rotherham United set to complete transfer coup for Leeds United forward | OneFootball

Leeds United are set to send one of their brightest young stars to League One side Rotherham United.

Rotherham United are set to land one of Leeds United's brightest young stars, with the side eyeing January additions to bolster the ranks of Matt Hamshaw's struggling squad.

The Millers are 22nd in League One, albeit only eight points behind Mansfield Town in 12th. There are just three points separating 12th from 20th in the third tier and plenty of points still to play for.

Rotherham were relegated from the Championship the season Leeds United finished third, with Daniel Farke's side amassing 90 points and missing out on promotion while their neighbours were relegated on just 27 points.

They then finished 13th in League One in 2024/25, while Leeds were promoted to the Premier League by winning the Championship title. But further cuts has meant tumbling further into peril, with a number of sides looking to get out of danger by making additions this month.

Harry Gray set to join Rotherham United on loan from Leeds United

Harry Gray is one of Leeds' brightest academy products in recent years, following his brother Archie Gray joining Tottenham Hotspur. The Leeds United academy is famed for its ability to produce talent consistently, too.

The likes of James Milner and Kalvin Phillips are among those to have progressed through and gone on to play Premier League football consistently. Farke handed Gray his debut against Bristol City last season but he has not been in the first-team plans this campaign.

After smashing in a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United's senior team for Leeds' under-21's side in the National League Cup in September, he has been on the bench just once for Leeds in the league - that came in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Gray was not used in the FA Cup win over Derby County, with the 17-year-old playing in and scoring in a 2-0 win against Reading U-21s the day prior. Now, he is set for his first senior loan and Rotherham will be the beneficiaries, according to journalist Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post.

Gray only penned his first professional contract shortly after his 17th birthday in October, signing a deal to keep him at Elland Road long-term.

Rotherham United may not be the right loan for Leeds' Harry Gray

In recent games, Hamshaw has opted for a 3-5-2, meaning Jordan Hugill has led the line alongside Sam Nombe. Gray could be utilised alongside either as part of a front-two, knowing he needs to develop physically and get used to the senior game.

The question marks over this deal pertain to whether the division is a step too far for Gray. Would it have been more wise to secure a League Two loan first instead of a team like Rotherham?

The other aspect is whether they can get the best out of Gray. They have lost seven games in a row and haven't won in 10 league games. As per FotMob, the Millers are also 23rd for xG generated.

They do not create many chances, which may be a concern for Leeds fans wanting Gray to kick on and improve via a hot streak in front of goal. For the under-21's team, Gray has bagged 11 goals and two assists in 14 games so far, but that is unlikely to continue without more creativity in South Yorkshire - unless he can get them firing on a one-man crusade.