Tottenham are preparing for their third signing of the summer transfer window, with Archie Gray set to join from Leeds United.
Gray is expected to join Spurs for £40million, while Joe Rodon will join Leeds United in the opposite direction for roughly £10million.
For Tottenham, it represents a swoop for one of the biggest and brightest young stars in England, following a breakout campaign in the Championship last season.
Ange Postecoglou will be boosted by the presence of Gray for both the short-term and long-term at the club.
There are several key problem areas that the teenager can address for the Tottenham boss, so with that said, here’s a look at a few of those.
Tottenham midfield transfer solution
Gray could help fix Postecoglou’s concerns over the midfield this summer, following a downturn in form over the end of the Premier League season.
Tottenham duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr started the campaign well but saw that start drift away as it drew on.
In Gray, Spurs have another young option for their central ranks, with his ability to evade a press through minor body movements making him valuable for progressing the ball.
While it is still a large fee, the move will also see the Lilywhites save money on other transfer targets such as Conor Gallagher.
Right-back issue
While the future of Gray should firmly lay in the midfield department, the youngster is also more than capable of playing as a full-back.
Through various periods of last season, the 18-year-old had to play at right-back for Leeds, where he showed plenty of comfort with inverting into the midfield.
Not only does this suit Postecoglou’s style perfectly, but it also gives an ideal backup option to Pedro Porro – in the event of an injury or suspension.
Equally, that then frees up a spot for Emerson Royal to leave Tottenham for AC Milan, as has been heavily touted.
- READ MORE: Tottenham confirmed signings, transfer ins and outs, loans and releases for 2024 summer window
Joe Rodon transfer fee
Another issue the move for Gray solves for Tottenham is the future of Rodon, should he confirm a switch to Leeds in return.
The defender joined from Swansea in 2020 for a fee worth roughly £11million – potentially up to £15million with add-ons.
With only 24 appearances to his name at Spurs, Rodon spent two seasons on loan, including a spell with Leeds.
While minutes were key, so was getting the maximum transfer value from the Welsh international, who only has two years remaining on his contract at Hotspur Way.
The exit, in return for Gray, ensures that he leaves for the maximum value possible – somewhere in the region of £10million.
With amortisation devaluing a player’s transfer cost over the course of their contract, Rodon should be worth roughly £3.6million on the books, which will bag a profit of £6.4million for Spurs as it stands.
Squad registration rules
Another major boost for Tottenham is the fact that Gray will count as a homegrown talent when it comes to their squad registration rules.
Premier League teams are allowed a maximum of 17 non-homegrown players for a squad of 25, meaning that eight homegrown squad options are required to meet the correct quote for a larger squad.
These rules carry over to the UEFA Europa League squad registration, with Spurs competing in the competition next season.
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