Everton: Demarai Gray decision on Al-Hilal transfer emerges amid Crystal Palace transfer twist
Everton winger Demarai Gray may reject a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League and remain in England with Crystal Palace interested, according to the Daily Mail.
Mail reporter Sami Mokbel wrote in the online version of the newspaper (27 June) that Gray will be available for transfer this summer as the Toffees look to raise funds for player signings.
Gray has previously played abroad for Bayer Leverkusen and is thought to be on the radar of Al Hilal amid a huge and expensive recruitment drive going on in Saudi Arabia.
However, the 26-year-old may reject the riches on offer and stay in the Premier League with Palace said to be eyeing up Gray and Arnaut Danjuma, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham from Villarreal.
Palace themselves are said to be working on a tight budget this window, though, and any signings are likely to be funded by player sales, the Mail writes.
Everton have tough decisions to make
The past two seasons have been an absolute shambles at Goodison Park, both off and on the pitch.
Once again, the Toffees just about staved off relegation from the Premier League last season and without changes to the playing squad another season of struggle is likely.
But the issue is, Everton have been walking a tightrope with financial fair play rules and once again this summer there is unlikely to be huge money available to invest.
It means sacrifices are going to have to be made to fund improvements to the team, and Demarai Gray is among them. Inconsistent at times he may be, but there are likely a host of other names Toffees supporters would rather see depart before the tricky winger.
The problem is, it is usually the players fans do not want to leave that are more valuable. Selling Gray could raise some much-needed funds to bring in reinforcements for boss Sean Dyche.
There are tough transfer decisions to be made at Everton, and selling Gray may be chief among them.
In other Everton news, an update has emerged on West Ham’s pursuit of Amadou Onana with Arsenal and Chelsea also linked.