Manchester City planning big-money bid for Leeds United forward valued at £40 million | OneFootball

Leeds United could once again become subject to big-money transfer interest from Manchester City, a new report has revealed.

City’s recruitment department has increasingly prioritised elite youth prospects capable of developing into long-term first-team contributors under Pep Guardiola, with the club willing to act early when a player is deemed to have an exceptional ceiling.

That strategy has seen the club track some of the most highly-rated teenagers in English football, particularly those already exposed to senior environments at a young age. And Leeds United’s academy has emerged as one of the most productive in the country in recent years.

That pathway has accelerated the development of several promising players and ensured that Leeds’ standout prospects are closely monitored by rival Premier League clubs, and City are often among those clubs with watchful eyes.

Against that backdrop, the emergence of another Leeds youngster on City’s radar is unlikely to come as a surprise, particularly given the teenager’s rapid progression through age groups and his growing exposure to first-team football over the past 18 months.

According to the information of journalist Alan Nixon, Manchester City are now planning to snatch highly-rated Leeds United attacker Harry Gray in a significant deal – despite the teenager having only made one senior appearance for the club.

The 17-year-old is the younger brother of Tottenham star Archie Gray, and the report claims it may take a fee of around £40 million for Harry – who is seen as a long term starter at the Etihad Stadium – to make the move to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Harry Gray has reportedly been on Manchester City’s radar ‘for some time’, and a bid is being eyed up by those in recruitment roles as well as the possibility of a player heading in the opposite direction – with Kalvin Phillips named despite the issues of his significant wages.

Gray is widely viewed as one of the most exciting attacking talents to emerge from Leeds’ academy in recent years, having played senior youth football from an unusually young age before being gradually introduced to first-team surroundings.

His development has been carefully managed, with appearances across Leeds’ youth sides and selective involvement in senior matchday squads highlighting the club’s long-term belief in his potential.

From Manchester City’s perspective, any move would likely be framed as a future-focused investment rather than an immediate first-team solution, with Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff renowned for their work in refining young attacking players over time.

A transfer at the reported valuation would nonetheless underline the scale of Manchester City’s belief in Gray’s trajectory, while for Leeds United, the coming months may prove decisive in determining whether they can retain one of their brightest prospects or whether interest from elite clubs becomes too strong to resist.