Tottenham agree £40m deal to sign teenage midfielder
- Tottenham to win race to sign Leeds midfielder Archie Gray
- 18-year-old midfielder had been close to joining Brentford
- Joe Rodon expected to move in opposite direction
By Tom Gott
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £40m deal to sign 18-year-old midfielder Archie Gray from Leeds United, multiple reports have stated.
Gray enjoyed a breakout season last year as Leeds pushed for promotion back to the Premier League, only to fall short in the play-off final against Southampton.
Several clubs were keen to take Gray up to England's top flight and the teenager had been close to joining Brentford, only for the London outfit to fail to strike an agremeent over payment terms with Leeds.
That allowed long-term admirers Tottenham to swoop in and Fabrizio Romano reports that an agreement has now been struck which will see centre-back Joe Rodon, who spent last season on loan at Elland Road, join Leeds permanently.
Tottenham are expected to pay close to £30m for Gray, with Rodon heading in the opposite direction in a separate deal worth £10m.
Gray has already agreed personal terms with Tottenham, who have fought off competition from rival suitors like Chelsea to get a deal over the line.
Leeds are believed to be in need of money to avoid breaching the Football League's financial rules and may still be able to include Gray's imminent sale on last season's financial accounts if there is enough evidence to prove a desire to get a deal done before June 30.
As for Tottenham, manager Ange Postecoglou has long been looking to sign a new midfielder. Chelsea's Conor Gallagher was a target in each of the last two transfer windows and another bid this summer had been expected, although that may change with the move for Gray.
Another new midfielder could still be pursued as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg continues to attract interest from elsewhere.
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