Liverpool were scouting ‘phenomenal’ English player all last season, he’s just moved for £35m

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Liverpool are yet to make anything like a concrete move during the current transfer window.

The Reds are so far keeping out of things in the market as they assess which direction to go in this summer.

There is plenty to be getting on with in the meantime, with pre-season training now partially underway at the AXA Training Centre.

Arne Slot will welcome back the available members of his first-team squad on Friday, and will likely then look at what needs doing from there.

While Liverpool wait though, there remains a chance that they miss out on provisional summer targets.

Liverpool miss out after scouting Archie Gray

Liverpool won’t be panicking despite the fact that they’ve done no business at all so far. FSG are used to operating in this way.

The Liverpool owners are incredibly methodical in their approach to new additions and only usually go after a player if they’re completely convinced.

One who they had looked to be in for this year was Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray. Gray was a breakout star for Leeds last season and was being courted by many top clubs.

But despite the fact that Liverpool were reportedly in touch with Gray and his family over a move, the 18-year-old joined Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

READ MORE: All confirmed Liverpool incomings, outgoings, loans and releases for 2024/25

From a Liverpool point of view, you could understand why this would be disappointing. Upon his signing for Spurs, The Times have reported that the Reds were ‘repeatedly’ scouting Gray last season.

So intense was Liverpool’s watching of the England U21 international, that there is said to have been a feeling that a £40m bid was coming from Anfield in January.

That never happened and instead Tottenham have swooped to snap up Gray, for a fee The Times claim to be £35m.

Liverpool were previously reported to be ‘playing the long game’ with Gray. Maybe that game just got a little longer.

Liverpool won’t regret Archie Gray decision

Had Liverpool been utterly convinced about the potential of Gray, then it’s likely that they could have beaten Tottenham to his signing.

However, for a couple of different reasons, we can understand why the Reds have chosen not to pull the trigger on a player labelled ‘phenomenal‘ by former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford.

First of all, £35m is a lot to pay for an 18-year-old with only one season of second division football behind him. The potential of Gray is obvious, but it’s still a big risk.

Liverpool look set to tie up a deal for Wolves youngster Alvin Ayman for a nominal fee. That’s the only kind of money we want to see the Reds spending for teenagers, really.

Secondly, Slot is quite well stocked in the midfield area. For £35m Gray would have to play a lot of first-team football and there isn’t really room for him right now.

Liverpool will no doubt continue to monitor Spurs’ new signing, but this one will have to go majorly on the back-burner for now. And that’s fine.