Leeds United: Darren Bent fires warning to Archie Gray after Tottenham move | OneFootball

The former striker has his reservations about the deal

Leeds United are resigned to their first significant player departure of the summer, with Archie Gray having signed for Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that will see last season's loan star Joe Rodon return to Elland Road.

Gray had initially been primed to join Brentford over the weekend before talks broke down with Leeds.

The 18-year-old prodigy had unsurprisingly been in the transfer spotlight in recent weeks, with many leading domestic and continental suitors forming a battle for his services after a remarkable breakout campaign in West Yorkshire.

He only missed two matches all term as Leeds ascended all the way to the play-off final before eventually falling at the hands of Southampton, earning wide plaudits for his versatility, close control and ability to help Daniel Farke's dominate the possession stakes in almost all of their fixtures.

It comes as no shock to see the England youth international now en-route to put pen to paper with one of the domestic game's top clubs, although reservations have been expressed in some quarters.

Darren Bent provides cautious verdict on Archie Gray's transfer to Tottenham from Leeds United

Those feelings come from ex-Tottenham hitman Darren Bent, who knows what it takes to make the grade with the Lilywhites and believes that Gray would've been in better stead by completing a move to Brentford.

"He is versatile. Full-back, in central midfield, passes the ball, gets on the ball, comfortable in possession," the TalkSPORT pundit explained.

"Going into a dressing room like Tottenham where they are pushing for top four, it’s different expectations.

"If he goes to Brentford, he maybe can settle in for a year and then obviously really kick on next year. I know he is ready to go now, but 18 years old - that’s still really young.

"Working with a coach like Ange Postecoglou, it is about potential and it is about maybe the years to come. But if he had gone to Brentford, I think he would have got in straightaway and probably played.

Leeds United's Archie Gray made the right decision in joining Tottenham Hotspur over Brentford

Bent raises a fair argument about the expectations that accompany Spurs but then again, the pressure cooker doesn't come much hotter than Elland Road, where Gray made himself a real fan-favourite at such a tender age.

Leeds supporters are among the finest in the country in terms of both attendance relative to capacity home and away and the cauldron of noise they create, though that comes with intense pressure when the going gets tough.

Gray should be commended for already graduating from that test of verve and fortitude with flying colours, and it'll stand him in good stead ahead of his next challenge in the Premier League.

It's also important to consider that Brentford appear likely to find themselves embroiled in next term's relegation dogfight, especially if they lose highly-coveted talisman Ivan Toney which seems a real possibility as things stand.

So, there's every chance that Gray could've just ended up in the Championship next year, a twist of fate that would've undermined his initial decision to move on from Leeds.