"The ship has sailed" - Honest Leeds United verdict issued on potential Archie Gray loan reunion | OneFootball

FLW's Leeds United fan pundit offered an honest admission on Archie Gray

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

The ship has very much sailed on Archie Gray potentially returning to Leeds United from Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window, according to FLW's Whites fan pundit.

After falling agonisingly short of an immediate return to the Premier League at the hands of Russell Martin's Southampton in last season's Championship play-off final, Leeds saw a whole host of prized assets lured away in what was a turbulent transfer window.

Glen Kamara left for Rennes while Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter both sealed big-money moves to the Premier League, although the departure of Archie Gray was the toughest pill to swallow for the Whites faithful.

The teenager, who had long been billed to follow in the footsteps of the elder Gray dynasty while playing for Leeds at youth level, made his first-team breakthrough under Daniel Farke in the previous campaign and made 52 appearances across all competitions, demonstrating quality, maturity and versatility beyond his youthful years.

Following much speculation surrounding his future, Gray joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee in the region of £40 million.

Since then, though, first-team opportunities have proved somewhat difficult to come by, leading to tentative talk about a potential, and premature return to West Yorkshire in the next window.

Archie Gray's Spurs career following Leeds United exit has been a slow burner

The 18-year-old very much represents a long-term acquisition for Ange Postecoglou, who has managed his development carefully during the opening months of his top-flight career.

There's clearly a strategy for Gray, hence Spurs' significant investment of course, although he's yet to receive ample opportunity in the Premier League. At the time of writing, the England youth international has registered only 42 minutes of league action across five matches, but opportunities have been more forthcoming in cup competitions.

He's started each of Spurs' first four UEFA Europa League fixtures along with both of their EFL Cup victories over Coventry and Manchester City, making a positive impression in the process.

Due to Gray's limited top-flight action, a potential loan return to Leeds has been mentioned but, admittedly, such a scenario does look highly unlikely at this moment in time.

Honest Leeds United verdict offered on potential Archie Gray loan return

Amid the talk of a return, FLW asked our Leeds fan pundit, Kris Smith, if he thinks Leeds should push to sign Gray on loan in the winter window and hand him some much-needed game-time.

While Kris believes not a single Leeds fan would have any objection to a renaissance with the homegrown prodigy, he does recognise the difficulty of the deal due to the strength in depth which Gray provides Postecoglou's side - and has written off the possibility as such.

"It is a weird one with Archie Gray, because I don't think there's a single Leeds fan out there that would turn down signing him on loan in the new year if that became a possibility," Kris told Football League World.

"But I also then think Spurs probably aren't going to be considering loaning Gray out to the Championship in the new year or loaning him out full stop.

He's going to be needed when Spurs start to pick up a few injuries and they're going to be looking to going deep in Europe and in the other cup competitions, so letting him go would really harm their depth in more than one position.

"He's played at left-back, right-back, even centre-half and in central midfield since he signed for them, that sort of versatility is crucial when you're trying to go on four different fronts.

"I do think the ship has sailed though for that reason, knowing Leeds have also kind of replaced Gray by signing Jayden Bogle and Isaac Schmidt for the full-back positions and then Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell for number eight midfielders as well.

"Spurs have only seen the beginning of what he can do there, and they're going to want to see him kick on in the new year."