Leeds United have decided to review their options for the centre-forward position in the summer transfer window after winning promotion from the Championship.
Los Blancos have signed experienced striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton, making him manager Daniel Farke’s first-choice number nine for the Premier League season.
However, the former England international has so far scored one goal in eight appearances in all competitions for Leeds, missing nine “big chances” and missed five “big chances” in the top flight, according to Sofascore.
Calvert-Lewin may be looking over his shoulder with concern at rising academy talent Harry Gray as he struggles in front of goal for his new club.
Why Harry Gray worries Leeds strikers
The 17-year-old centre-forward, who made his first-team debut in last season’s Championship win against Stoke, has been active in the club’s academy and could be a future star for Falke.
According to Transfermarkt, Gray has scored four goals in four Premier League 2 games for the Under-21s this season, including a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.
This means the teenage forward has scored seven goals in all competitions for the young Whites, while Calvert-Lewin has scored one goal for the first team.
According to Transfermarkt, Gray scored eight goals in 11 games for the Under-18s before stepping up to the Under-21s, meaning he has been a regular goalscorer for several seasons.
His impressive goalscoring form will worry Leeds’ current strikers. That’s because if he can transfer his form from the academy to the first team, he looks on track to crash into the first team and earn one of their international spots.
Playing on borrowed time thanks to Leeds striker Harry Gray
Despite struggling in front of goal in the Premier League this season, it’s not Calvert-Lewin who is playing on loan due to Gray’s potential. My name is Lucas Nmeka.
The former Germany international joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg as his first signing of the summer and scored his debut goal from a penalty against Everton.
Since that debut goal, Nmeka has been used as a substitute in almost every match, and despite appearing in every game, he has rarely been seen by supporters.
Lucas Nmeka’s Premier League season | |
|---|---|
Opposition | minutes |
everton | 12 |
arsenal | 32 |
Fulham | 70 |
newcastle united | twenty one |
wolverhampton wanderers | 1 |
bournemouth | 1 |
tottenham hotspur | 11 |
burnley | twenty four |
west ham united | 3 |
Statistics via Transfermarkt | |
According to WhoScored, of all Leeds players who have appeared in all eight games, no player has played fewer minutes than Nmeka. That’s because he is the only player to play at least 242 minutes in every game without appearing.
Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, has started six of seven Premier League games and played a total of 534 minutes, suggesting his place in the team is less under threat than Nmeka.
Unlike the former Toffees player, Farke doesn’t seem to trust the German centre-forward to play much game time, which doesn’t bode well for his future at Elland Road.
According to Sofascore, Nmeka has returned five goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons combined, but that doesn’t suggest he’s unlikely to be on fire in front of goal and establish himself as a regular starter.
So it could be the former Wolfsburg No.9 on loan, with Gray emerging as an incredibly exciting striker prospect at Under-21 level. That’s because the 17-year-old could break out and compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting spot in the not-too-distant future.