Archie Gray latest: Real Madrid action, Bayern Munich stance made clear, Leeds United contract talks | OneFootball

Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray has caught the eye this season in the Championship, in what has been the 18-year-old's breakout campaign for his boyhood club, but that has naturally stirred up interest across Europe.

Leeds' teenage sensation took home the division’s Apprentice of the Season award after a stunning campaign at Elland Road, whilst also winning the prestigious Championship Young Player of the Season award ahead of Jon Rowe and Jordan James.

The Leeds starlet has been one of the stories of the 2023/24 Championship campaign, making 46 appearances for the Whites so far. Gray has taken the chance to make inroads into the first team under Daniel Farke with both hands and is enjoying his first season as a professional player.

Of course, Leeds were able to fend off any January interest and tie the central midfielder turned right-back to a long-term contract, but fresh updates on such transfer speculation continue to gather pace. According to Football Insider, Leeds' resolve "will be tested" when it comes to keeping hold of their sought-after academy graduate, as multiple suitors circle over a potential summer deal.

However, his versatility and maturity has been crucial and will continue to be during the run-in, as he continues to rapidly develop. Naturally, for such a talented youngster, the pace at which Gray is improving has caught the eye of many of Europe's elite, as well as the England setup.

A whirlwind season could yet have a fantastic ending for him and Leeds, but in the meantime, here we have taken a look at some of the latest news and biggest headlines coming out of Elland Road regarding Gray's future.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich join Premier League race

It has recently been reported by HITC that Real Madrid have been keeping a close eye on Gray, with Bayern Munich also said to be interested while the same report reveals that officials from each club were in attendance for Leeds' 3-1 victory over Hull City at the start of the month.

Both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also shown their interest in Gray, as per a report from Football Insider, with Everton also thought to be keen, as his performances warranted huge interest during the January transfer window.

Farke has not entertained the possibility of losing one of his star men, with the youngster also brushing off any talk of a potential exit from Elland Road. Leeds have also insisted they are not planning on cashing in Gray's services any time soon, according to a report by HITC, with full focus on securing automatic promotion this term.

Florian Plettenberg's Archie Gray/Bayern update

Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has provided an update on Twitter/X surrounding Bayern Munich's interest.

The reporter claims that Bayern are indeed "monitoring" Gray’s situation and development at Leeds, as they are aware of his quality, but that doesn’t mean they are even considering signing him at this stage.

It’s been made clear that the youngster is "not a hot topic" for the Bundesliga giants, and there’s been "no contact" between them and the player’s cohort.

Plettenberg also highlights that Gray remains a key player for the West Yorkshire outfit, where he’s well protected with a contract still running until 2028.

Pete O'Rourke's Archie Gray update

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that the Whites are planning to open contract talks for two of their star figures to fend off interest this summer, including Gray. However, he has suggested that the chances of fresh agreements depend heavily on the club’s promotion hopes, with Gray's teammate Crysencio Summerville also likely to receive fresh terms if the club are promoted.

“Rewarding the likes of Archie Gray with a new contract I’m sure is high up in the list of the Leeds hierarchy,” said O’Rourke, via Football Insider.

“I’m sure there will be discussions around Summerville’s future as well.

“He’s been instrumental in their push for promotion and he has attracted interest from other clubs. Leeds, like a number of clubs right now, have probably got a Premier League budget and a Championship budget, and until they know where they are going to be, they can’t make any definitive decisions on transfer targets right now.

“Because if they are promoted they will have a lot more money to spend, but if they end up staying in the Championship, they could see players moving on and they might have to use that money to reinvest in the squad.

“It’s all ifs and buts right now, with all the focus on ending the season and winning promotion for Leeds.”