Liverpool could seal transfer move for Trent 2.0 in £40m prodigy

The Reds might acquire a player with even more potential than Stefan Bajcetic.

With twelve matches remaining and 27 points accumulated, Liverpool are in second place in the Premier League standings at the international break of the 2023/24 season. They are one point behind the ignominious league leaders, Manchester City.

The previous season’s yarn told an entirely different tale. During the same period, Liverpool had recently endured a disgraceful 2-1 setback against Leeds United at Anfield, relegating Jurgen Klopp’s squad to midtable mediocrity and shedding light on the scandalous inconsistencies in a group that had narrowly missed a historic quadruple just months prior.

The midfield was devoid of vitality; exhaustion was widespread. It became evident that players such as Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson had ceased to provide the Reds with the stability, consistency, and vigor that were essential for success during the course of the season.

Liverpool rekindled optimism on Merseyside with a late-season purple patch, but it was too little, too late, as their revival resulted in a fifth-place finish and eliminated them from Champions League contention.

However, with the advent of a fresh season and Klopp’s summer transfer efforts reinstating the team’s vigor, the midfield cluster has been significantly reorganised and the quest for championship honours has resumed.

Despite the additions of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch of a similar caliber, the Reds’ new phase remains unfinished, and it appears that the German manager is preparing a 2024 proposal for a prodigious talent who will commit to Liverpool for years to come.

The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool are interested in acquiring Archie Gray, a teenager who plays midfield for Leeds United. Klopp is reportedly preparing a transfer offer for the youngster for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Gray, who is only 17 years old and has not even made his first-team début for the club yet, is regarded by Leeds as a Premier League diamond. They are prepared to pay more than £40 million for him, as his start to life in the Championship has been phenomenal.

Additionally, Crystal Palace and Everton are rumored to be interested parties in Leeds. Although Manchester United manager Daniel Farke is unlikely to engage in negotiations, the increasing interest may compel Leeds to sell.

Following three seasons in the Premier League, Leeds reverted to the second tier last year. A lack of cohesion and defensive resilience, coupled with frequent managerial changes, thwarted ambitions for a return to the top division.

Gray made his senior debut this season; however, due to the importance of securing every possible point, he was not given the opportunity to start. Nevertheless, he did achieve six appearances in the Premier League matchday squad, if not minutes on the field.

Presently, he is flourishing as the focal point of Farke’s initiative, having amassed 17 appearances in all competitions this season, including starting 13 of Leeds’ 16 Championship matches.

Gray, who has alternated between the center of the field and right back and completed 81% of his passes in the league while also accumulating 5.2 ball recoveries per game, 2.3 tackles, and 54% duels, has demonstrated his versatility, according to Sofascore.

Gray, described as a “unreal talent” by lifelong Leeds supporter and TEAMtalk editor James Marchment, is the driving force behind a team vying for promotion in a notoriously difficult division to flee. This speaks volumes about his character and inherent ability.

Phil Hay of The Athletic reports that he “already ranks as one of Farke’s main men.” Previously a central midfielder, he was recently successfully utilized at right back.

Gray is ranked in the top 19% for tackles won per 90 and among the top 20% for pass completion among positional peers in divisions comparable to the Championship, according to FBref. These statistics underscore his developing proficiency in maintaining the ball and his strongness when competing for it.

Gray, if signed by Liverpool, has the potential to develop into a player of even higher caliber than Stefan Bajcetic, who excelled for Klopp’s struggling side in the previous season. According to Sofascore, Bajcetic made 11 Premier League appearances and completed 79% of his passes and 64% of his dribbles.

Due to an abductor injury that ended his inaugural season in March, he has not been able to return to consistent match action since.

Gray’s dominance in the Leeds squad this season betrays his illustrious future prowess, and Liverpool’s interest in his services notwithstanding the exorbitant transfer fee suggests that, should he sign, he could emerge as the club’s preeminent youth.

This age-beating ascent has been exemplary and a testimony to the efficacy of Leeds’ academy ranks; he has been likened to Klopp’s Trent Alexander-Arnold due to his versatility between central and right-sided positions.

Gray’s versatility could potentially explain Liverpool’s interest, as the Anfield club could acquire the ideal opponent for the 25-year-old Scouser, whose recent tactical adjustment involved a transition from his customary wide position to an inverted hybrid central deployment when in possession.

Alexander-Arnold, who has amassed 75 assists and 16 goals in 287 appearances for the Reds and has been dubbed a “genius” by journalist Neil Jones, has long been regarded as one of the most innovative forces in European football.

The £180,000-per-week phenomenon ranked in the top 3% for progressive passes per 90 and among the top 1% for assists, shot-creating actions, and passes attempted among full-backs in Europe’s top five divisions over the past year.

Additionally ranking in the top 12% for interceptions per 90, the dynamo provides Gray with a level of durability that he may wish to emulate. Anfield Stadium could very well be the ideal setting to actualize this potential.

Dan James, a winger for the Whites, frequently accompanied Gray down the right channel this season. He was left gushing about the youth’s abilities, remarking that he is more than capable of emerging as a prominent figure in English football.

James stated, “He has the potential to become one of the finest players in the Premier League, if not the entire world, with the ability he possesses.”

“He is sixteen still.” I consider him to be completely insane. Clearly, he still has a great deal of development to undergo and develop within his own body. His capability is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a young person; he is capable of accomplished great things.”

Although Leeds have made a promising start to the season in the Championship and are vying for an immediate return to the top tier, Gray could be enticed to move to Merseyside to continue his development with Liverpool, which is currently fostering an exciting crop of prospects.

And considering the resemblance to Alexander-Arnold, it would be prudent for him to seize the opportunity and benefit from the endeavors of the creative phenomenon, thereby advancing along the same trajectory to the vanguard of the field.