"Would be a massive coup" - Pundit reacts as Leeds United battle Chelsea and Spurs for 22-year-old | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer spoke to FLW to discuss Leeds United's interest in Archie Brown

Carlton Palmer believes that Leeds United could be in the race to sign Gent defender Archie Brown despite Premier League interest, as Daniel Farke's side would be able to offer him regular football.

It was recently reported by TEAMtalk that Leeds, along with Premier League sides Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham and Brentford have Brown on their radar ahead of the January transfer window, with the 22-year-old impressing in Belgium since signing for Gent last summer.

The left-back came through the ranks at Derby County before leaving in 2021, initially for Swiss side Lausanne-Sport, before sealing a move to Gent in the summer of 2023, where he has become a regular starter in both the Jupiler Pro League and the Europa Conference League, playing the full 90 minutes at his side lost 4-2 away to Chelsea last month.

With a host of Premier League clubs interested in signing him, some Leeds supporters could be forgiven for thinking that they're up against it when it comes to sealing his signature, but Palmer believes that their Championship status could actually be a blessing in disguise.

Carlton Palmer on Leeds United's chances of signing Archie Brown

Former Leeds United and England midfielder Palmer believes that Brown will have more of a chance of playing regular first-team football at Elland Road, and that the 22-year-old will want to be playing regularly wherever he goes.

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said: "Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are among the clubs reportedly interested in Gent defender Archie Brown.

“This is not the first time Leeds United have been interested in Archie Brown. The 22-year-old left England in 2021 after coming through the ranks at Derby County.

“He sought pastures new, starting in Switzerland with Lausanne-Sport. He swapped Switzerland for Belgium last year, joining Gent, and he’s seen his career go from strength-to-strength.

“He’s played that well, he’s been rewarded with an England youth debut in the summer, and he’s attracting a lot of attention.

“The problem that Leeds United will have is that they’ll have to be in the Premier League to get him, so it’s unlikely that they’ll get him in the January transfer window, especially with the likes of Tottenham and West Ham credited with an interest, as well as Chelsea and Brentford.

“Leeds went after him in 2023 and were unable to get him, so they are big admirers of the defender, but it’s thought that they will have to be in the Premier League to get his signature.

“But, if the player is sensible, even if you want to go and play in a Premier League side, you look at the type of clubs interested in signing you, and you have to wonder whether you’ll go straight into the side and play, so Leeds could well be in the race.

"It would be a coup for them if they could pull it off and the fact that they could offer him first-team football now and the way they’re going now, they will hopefully see it over the line and get promotion. He’ll have more chance of playing in Leeds United’s first-team than he would with Tottenham, West Ham and Chelsea.

“As a young player he’s already had that where he’s not playing regularly and that’s why he went to Switzerland and Belgium, so it would be a massive coup for Leeds United, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Leeds United switch could make sense for Archie Brown

While TEAMtalk have reported that Leeds United would need to be in the Premier League to be the frontrunners to sign the left-back, an Elland Road switch could make more sense than moving to a top-flight side.

You'd have thought that Brown would be brought in to become a regular starter in Daniel Farke's side, and that could do him far more good than sitting on the bench in the Premier League, or even being signed just to go back on loan somewhere.

Brown's best bet of becoming a Premier League starter may be joining Leeds and winning promotion with them, rather than signing for a club already in the top-flight.