Leeds United decided to revamp their options in the centre-forward position in the summer transfer window after they won promotion from the Championship.
The Whites swooped to sign experienced striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton to be Daniel Farke’s first-choice number nine for the Premier League season.
So far, though, the former England international has scored one goal and missed nine ‘big chances’ in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, for Leeds, with five ‘big chances’ missed in the top-flight.
Because of his struggles in front of goal for his new club, Calvert-Lewin may be worried and looking over his shoulder at emerging academy talent Harry Gray.
Why Harry Gray will have Leeds strikers worried
The 17-year-old centre-forward, who made his first-team debut against Stoke in the Championship last season, has been on fire for the club’s academy, and could be a future star for Farke.
Gray has scored four goals in four Premier League 2 matches for the U21s side this season, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.
This means that the teenage forward has plundered seven goals in all competitions for the young Whites, whilst Calvert-Lewin has scored one goal for the first-team.
Gray also scored eight goals in 11 matches for the U18s before making the step up to the U21s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been a regular goalscorer for several seasons.
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His impressive goalscoring form will have the current Leeds strikers worried because he appears to be on course to crash into the senior side to take one of their spots in the squad, if he can translate his academy form over to the first-team.
The Leeds striker on borrowed time because of Harry Gray
Despite his struggles in front of goal in the Premier League this season, it is not Calvert-Lewin who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s potential. It is Lukas Nmecha.
The former Germany international joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, as the first signing of the summer, and scored on his debut from the penalty spot against Everton.
Since that debut goal, Nmecha has rarely been seen by supporters, despite featuring in every match, as he has been used as a late substitute in almost every game.
Everton
12
Arsenal
32
Fulham
70
Newcastle United
21
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1
Bournemouth
1
Tottenham Hotspur
11
Burnley
24
West Ham United
3
No Leeds player who has featured in all eight games has played fewer minutes than Nmecha, per WhoScored, as he is the only player to have played in every match without hitting at least 242 minutes.
Calvert-Lewin, on the other hand, has started six of his seven appearances in the Premier League, playing 534 minutes in total, which suggests that his place in the squad is not under as much threat as Nmecha’s is.
Unlike the former Toffees man, Farke does not seem to trust the German centre-forward to play significant minutes in games, which does not bode well for his future at Elland Road.
Nmecha’s return of five goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Sofascore, does not suggest that he is likely to catch fire in front of goal and establish himself as a regular starter.
Therefore, it may be the former Wolfsburg number nine who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s emergence as an incredibly exciting striker prospect at U21 level, as the 17-year-old could break through and take his place to compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting berth in the not-too-distant future.