Harry Gray
The January transfer window just closed and some Leeds United fans will not be happy about what went down on deadline day. Just like in the summer, the club left some things too late.
Getting Facundo Buonanotte through the door very early was a good move, especially after Jack Harrison left on loan to Fiorentina. And after the optimism of closing a deal for a sorely needed addition, the club pursued a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen. An official enquiry was made, and the club even had a bid rejected for the Norwegian striker. Crystal Palace eventually joined the race and swooped to sign the player, with Leeds deciding not to budge on their valuation.
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What was frustrating was that the plan to land an attacker went down the drain after failing to sign Strand Larsen. Which in hindsight made it a bit confusing why the club had only one target in the first place.
Harry Gray scores for Rotherham United
In the January transfer window, Leeds agreed to a surprising deal that saw Harry Gray leave the club. The teenager had been with the Whites for the first half of the season. Most of the fanbase pushed for the young striker to make some first team appearances, but he was limited to the bench on matchdays. Daniel Farke mentioned early in the season that Gray’s development is priority and that he was not fully ready for Premier League football.
A loan to League One side Rotherham United seemed like a very big step. Leeds had loaned Charlie Crew to a team in the same division, but he had to return to Elland Road. Harry Gray on the other hand, has adapted well to life, with two goals in four games.
After his goal in the win over Exeter this past Saturday, Adam Pope revealed that he showed the goal footage to Eddie Gray to which the former Leeds man replied: “He’s a Gray isn’t he!”
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Loan will be of huge benefit to Leeds United
A loan at this point of Harry Gray’s career is a very good thing; he obviously was not going to get much action with a relegation side in the Premier League. At Rotherham, he gets a huge chance to spread his wings and properly develop. The transition from playing against teenagers every week to battling against grown professionals will be steep, but as seen already, he looks like he is up to it. Depending on how he performs, Gray could be a valuable first team member as early as next season.