Archie Gray latest: Leeds United stay encouraged amid positional concern, Borussia Dortmund news, family stance | OneFootball

FLW round up all the latest news and rumours regarding Archie Gray's future at Leeds United.

Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray caught the eye in the Championship last season, in what was 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 52 appearances in all competitions for the Whites. Gray has taken the chance to make inroads into the first-team under Daniel Farke with both hands and is now looking to build upon 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 his future are emerging all the time, with transfer speculation continuing 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.

His versatility and maturity has been extremely impressive for his age, and 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.

Leeds may sell one or two young stars this summer, including Gray. Here, in the meantime, we have taken a look at some of the latest news and biggest headlines coming out of Elland Road regarding his future.

Danny Mills' Archie Gray verdict

Danny Mills played 141 games for Leeds between 1999 and 2004 and believes Gray is best served remaining in West Yorkshire and in the Championship next season, as a potential silver-lining following failure to gain promotion.

Speaking to Football League World, he said: "He's young - a fantastic talent.

"He's not been played in his preferred position; I think his best position is midfield. He's been farmed out to right-back where he's performed brilliantly. My fear was if Leeds got into the Premier League, and he plays right-back, he might get a little bit lost.

"The quality that you're suddenly playing against, - Jeremy Doku, Mohamed Salah. It's another level. This is not the Championship anymore. And my fear would be that Leeds would bring in a right-back with experience and he might not make that midfield berth.

"I actually think for Archie's development, even if they’d got promoted, it wouldn't be a bad thing if he went and did a year in the Championship in midfield. He's very, very young, learning his game in midfield. Now, with all the experience that he has, I think it could be one of the best things that happened to him.

"Personally, I know Leeds fans wanted to be in the Premier League, and I'm sure Archie wanted to be playing in in the Premier League, but I think in terms of long-term development, when you look at the history of players, sometimes you can get thrown into the Premier League too soon and you're going from playing every game in the Championship to suddenly not playing many in the Premier League. And that can be tough to deal with at times.

"So, from a personal perspective, I think actually, Archie having another season in the Championship long-term will be the best thing for his development, especially if he plays in midfield this season."

Gray is reportedly considering a summer switch to European giants Borussia Dortmund amid transfer interest as the Leeds youngster eyes the next step in his career. The latest comes according to German outlet Bild, who state that the Champions League finalists have turned their attention to the 18-year-old ahead of the new campaign.

It is understood that Gray is now considering a switch to the Bundesliga side this summer, as he weighs up the next step in his career. Dortmund have earned a reputation for giving young players an opportunity to compete at the highest level, and are renowned at developing them before turning them into profit down the line.

The likes of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham are probably the most high-profile examples from an English perspective in recent years. Following in the footsteps of the England international stars could be an enticing prospect for Gray.

Nuri Şahin has recently been appointed as the latest Dortmund manager, and it is being reported that the Turkish coach is set to prioritise improving other areas of the squad first before making a concrete pursuit for Gray. It is believed a deal for Gray could cost anywhere between £20 to 35 million, but Dortmund will face competition in the race for his signature.

Archie Gray's family's verdict on his future with Leeds

Gray's family know it would be "folly" to reject potential talks with Borussia Dortmund if they made a concrete move, according to TEAMtalk. Not only are Dortmund interested, but Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are also in the mix for him.

Despite this interest, it doesn't seem as though Gray will try and force an exit, with TEAMtalk reporting that the player's family and agent are happy for the 18-year-old to remain at Elland Road at this stage.

This isn't a major surprise considering the Gray family's links to the club. The family name he comes from speaks to his talent. He’s in good company as the grandnephew of Eddie Gray, with Frank Gray as his grandfather, and as Andy Gray's son; all of whom played for Leeds at one stage or another.

But this report also states that the youngster's family know they would be foolish to turn down any talks with Dortmund if the German giants make a concrete move for the 18-year-old, which is something that can't be ruled out considering they took a chance on a young Bellingham not so long ago.

Despite the fact that the interest in Gray is , as it stands.