11 - Demarai Gray - classy

whooo

Set to have a medical ahead of a £1.5m move.

Everton are closing in on a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Demarai Gray.

The 25-year-old left Leicester in January 2021 and signed an 18-month deal with the German side.

But he only made 12 appearances last season, scoring one goal.

Meanwhile, Everton's Brazilian winger Bernard could be set to leave, with interest from United Arab Emirates side Sharjah FC. There has been interest from clubs in Russia and Greece too.

Gray would be Rafael Benitez's third signing since he was announced as the club's manager on 30 June.

On Tuesday, both former Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend and Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic signed for the Toffees.

Everton have flown to the United States to take part in the Florida Cup without Fabian Delph because he is self-isolating.

The club took the precautionary measure after the 31-year-old midfielder came into contact with someone who has since tested positive for coronavirus.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57916930?fbclid=IwAR0WuxbBk8lzYlvNFRQHpEUlgyHWu6aZz8gCTumir2Y8DZgJOLVtkrZCU3Y

Demarai Gray has sealed a move to Everton from Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee after agreeing a three-year contract until the end of June 2024 with the option for a fourth year.

The 25-year-old English winger becomes the Blues’ third summer signing following the arrivals this week of forward Andros Townsend and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Gray, who has linked up with Rafa Benitez’s squad in Orlando for the Florida Cup, helped Leicester City win the Premier League title in 2015/16 and has represented England at every level from Under-18 to Under-21.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2195173/gray-signs-for-everton

If feels kind of strange to get deals done this early - I'm used to 4 signings on the last open day of the transfer window.

Immediate thought is underwhelming, but how many of our more marquee signings have actually worked out well over the last few seasons.

Rotterdam 1985 wrote:

hairy cataract wrote:

Goodison_Gringo wrote:Immediate thought is underwhelming, but how many of our more marquee signings have actually worked out well over the last few seasons.

Exactly. At least these are going to be cheap disappointments, and therefore less disappointing.  All that splashing of cash didn't get us very far did it?  Demarai Gray strikes me as no worse than Iwobi and less than a tenth of the price.

Yep. Be smart, not flashy. The hilarious thing is that even while we were masquerading as a big money club over the last few years, we were still fighting the financial big guns with catapults, really. £40m on a first-teamer vs City spending £60m per pop on a bench warmer. It's as though the people in charge hadn't been told that FFP exists.

We need to be smart. It shouldn't even need saying - all clubs should aspire to be smart. We've put ourselves in a position where we no longer even have the option of being idiots in the transfer market.

I don't think everything will be bargain basement, I think we'll still have the option to spend fairly big on the right player, but if we can move away from players sat on the bench who cost £40m or are bringing in £120K a week then that's essential progress.

I was also thinking that bringing in the 'reasonable' priced squad players may just be a shrewd move to fill out the small squad that we have all moaned about.... and also allow us to have a good wedge to burn on at least one 'star' player... I just hope the waiter doesn't consider previous dross like Sandro, Tosun, Klaasen, Walcott etc etc to be 'star' quality !

Crystal Palace are allegedly looking at him.

https://tbrfootball.com/crystal-palace-stepping-up-interest-in-unbelievable-everton-player/

Knight of Thorgothshire wrote:Crystal Palace are allegedly looking at him.

https://tbrfootball.com/crystal-palace-stepping-up-interest-in-unbelievable-everton-player/

I've read in a few places this is progressing ... 14M

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:

Knight of Thorgothshire wrote:Crystal Palace are allegedly looking at him.

https://tbrfootball.com/crystal-palace-stepping-up-interest-in-unbelievable-everton-player/

I've read in a few places this is progressing ... 14M

Considering we obtained him for around £2M if I'm not mistaken, that might just have to happen although I hate to see the squad weakened further since it's unclear if there will be a replacement lined up.

Knight of Thorgothshire wrote:

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:

Knight of Thorgothshire wrote:Crystal Palace are allegedly looking at him.

https://tbrfootball.com/crystal-palace-stepping-up-interest-in-unbelievable-everton-player/

I've read in a few places this is progressing ... 14M

Considering we obtained him for around £2M if I'm not mistaken, that might just have to happen although I hate to see the squad weakened further since it's unclear if there will be a replacement lined up.

We're making space on the bench for Mbappe

Everton have agreed to sell Demarai Gray to Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia as long as the winger can agree personal terms – but plans to reinvest in another forward have hit a stumbling block.

Despite scoring six goals from 36 games last term, Gray is yet to feature for Everton this season and seems surplus to requirements for Sean Dyche. Into the final year of his contract, a departure seems to be in everyone’s best interests. And now, it seems to be materialising.

Fulham have been linked with Gray in recent weeks, but the Jamaica international now has the opportunity to move to the Middle East instead. According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton have accepted an offer from Saudi Pro League side, Al-Shabab.

The value of their bid has not yet been revealed, but an agreement in principle is in place. Now, the next step is for Al-Shabab to convince Gray to join them.

Talks will commence about what personal terms would be on offer to the 27-year-old in Saudi Arabia. Many players have been moving to the Pro League in recent months for a lucrative payday.

Al-Shabab have not actually been one of the main clubs involved in that process; their most recognisable player is captain Ever Banega, who joined them from Sevilla in 2020, but there aren’t many other household names in their squad.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/other/everton-accept-saudi-bid-for-overlooked-forward-despite-gnonto-talks-collapsing-after-four-bids/ar-AA1fy5iS?cvid=94f47acd832a4e918af14a7949bccc95&ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&ei=8

hairy cataract wrote:I think it's really important that we sell Demarai right now, as we have so many options in attack.  Even more importantly, we mustn't replace him, because that would be wasteful.  With Iwobi and DCL injured, we can always play Onana out there on the wing, or maybe Pickford up front.

I agree... Dwight is also an option although we will need to replace the front wheel of his mobile frame first... why is that so difficult to do with so many frame engineers looking for work !

Sean Dyche on Demarai Gray:
“Demarai told us a deal was done. Interesting to hear that from a player. We reminded him no deal is done without the clubs say so.”
“We said it’s not a done deal because this club is the most important.
This club will make decisions on the future of you as players and not the other way around. I think it’s right to let our fans know that’s the truth."

Allegedly in advanced talks to join Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq as per the BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66735350

Sounds like he has thrown his toys out of the pram. Shame, as we could use the cover, but £8m is a decent amount for someone who 1) doesn't want to be here, 2) only has 12 months left on his contract, and 3) isn't as good as McNeil or Danjuma (and maybe Harrison too).

Felt inevitable him and Dyche would fall out at some point. £8m seems a bit tight given the sums the Saudis have been throwing about but a year left on the contract isn’t a strong position to negotiate from. From a business perspective, this is entirely sensible.

today is blood money deadline day so it needs to happen fast now... or we are stuck with an unhappy player with only a year to run, meaning we'll lose him in January for free & he'll be a pain in the arse till then.

Hope he goes... maybe we should sign Lingard on a free agent as a replacement ?

Everton have sold Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

Gray moves on after the Blues opted to sell the 27-year-old forward to the Saudi Arabian club. It brings an end to his two-year spell on Merseyside, having signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.

Gray made 75 appearances and scored 12 goals for Everton. The Jamaica international started his career with hometown club Birmingham City before joining Leicester City in 2016.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3675026/everton-sell-gray?fbclid=IwAR37j39653G7Y5qiQ17nYpt-Lpsu9Om63ERdDMRA1V5il8uj1XY9E9pTOm0

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:Everton have sold Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

Gray moves on after the Blues opted to sell the 27-year-old forward to the Saudi Arabian club. It brings an end to his two-year spell on Merseyside, having signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.

Gray made 75 appearances and scored 12 goals for Everton. The Jamaica international started his career with hometown club Birmingham City before joining Leicester City in 2016.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3675026/everton-sell-gray?fbclid=IwAR37j39653G7Y5qiQ17nYpt-Lpsu9Om63ERdDMRA1V5il8uj1XY9E9pTOm0

Really interesting language 'Everton sell Gray' definitely designed to make it sound like the club is in charge.

Tonteau wrote:

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:Everton have sold Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

Gray moves on after the Blues opted to sell the 27-year-old forward to the Saudi Arabian club. It brings an end to his two-year spell on Merseyside, having signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.

Gray made 75 appearances and scored 12 goals for Everton. The Jamaica international started his career with hometown club Birmingham City before joining Leicester City in 2016.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3675026/everton-sell-gray?fbclid=IwAR37j39653G7Y5qiQ17nYpt-Lpsu9Om63ERdDMRA1V5il8uj1XY9E9pTOm0

Really interesting language 'Everton sell Gray' definitely designed to make it sound like the club is in charge.

yeah, that had to be after he slagged off Dyche...

btw Sky reported that undisclosed fee was circa 10 mill ... so that's not too bad I guess... don't know what his wages were but I guess more than 70k / week

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:

Tonteau wrote:

Made 4 Gwladys wrote:Everton have sold Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

Gray moves on after the Blues opted to sell the 27-year-old forward to the Saudi Arabian club. It brings an end to his two-year spell on Merseyside, having signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.

Gray made 75 appearances and scored 12 goals for Everton. The Jamaica international started his career with hometown club Birmingham City before joining Leicester City in 2016.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3675026/everton-sell-gray?fbclid=IwAR37j39653G7Y5qiQ17nYpt-Lpsu9Om63ERdDMRA1V5il8uj1XY9E9pTOm0

Really interesting language 'Everton sell Gray' definitely designed to make it sound like the club is in charge.

yeah, that had to be after he slagged off Dyche...

btw Sky reported that undisclosed fee was circa 10 mill ... so that's not too bad I guess... don't know what his wages were but I guess more than 70k / week

I get all of the above that the Club particularly has a right to be involved in discussions and a move is only possible (under contract) with Everton's explicit agreement.

But in todays modern times, I am not sure a banner picture of Everton SELLS Black player doesn't give someone else the opportunity to place an effective albeit non-contextual dig at the club.