Archie Gray departure is the 'speed bump' that Leeds United feared this summer as another prized jewel leaves too early

The end of next season will ultimately determine where the club are at in the post Archie Gray world. Hopefully back in the big time for their sakes.

What a shame that Gray, one of the most promising young talents across the land, would not be there to potentially lead them into it.

The prodigiously talented 18-year-old and reigning Championship Young Player of the Year finds himself in the Premier League in double quick-time at Tottenham Hotspur after just one season in the EFL.

It was always when not if he would find himself there, with a move to Brentford for an identical fee falling through last weekend.

Speaking last month, United chairman Paraag Marathe, delivering a sober end-of-season address following the desperately disappointing Championship play-off final loss to Southampton, spoke of the club having a strategic clear plan going forward, but pointedly referenced encountering ‘speed bumps’ along the way.

The speed bump that all those of a Leeds persuasion feared was the sale of Gray to enable the club to adhere to profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which permit clubs to make losses up to a certain amount over a three-year accounting period.

Ultimately, some grievous mistakes in previous transfer windows, most notably in the summer of 2022 under the former ownership - means that the club’s current custodians are paying a heavy price following United’s failure to ease their financial situation by promotion at the end of May. Then there’s the fans.

While they were prepared to tolerate the loss of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto - something many were bracing themselves for in truth - it is the jewel in the Leeds crown who has departed.

Rich in potential, Gray’s journey will now be played out in North London and not West Yorkshire, a blow to a club, his club, who professed to being ‘heartbroken’ at having to reluctantly cash in on their star turn, but prized asset. A personal blow too to Daniel Farke, whose care for Gray was almost paternalistic.

Farke handled vicissitudes when he arrived last summer and here is another.

Never one to usually extend to hyperbole, Farke went as close as he has ever done when speaking about Gray last September.

He said: "If everyone praises him, I have to protect him so he is down to earth and grounded.

"But if his development goes further on like this, I think not just Leeds United, but the whole country can be happy we have such a talented young player."

The arrival of Joe Rodon - heading in the opposite direction up the M1 as opposed to down it - is at least something to be welcomed at least.

Rodon - who enjoyed an outstanding year on loan last term and was one of the stand-out defenders in the division - has agreed a four-year-deal, running until the summer of 2028 after joining for a £10m fee.

There was top-flight interest in the Wales international, from Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Brentford.