Fulham to push for Demarai Gray Everton exit with Willian set to leave on free transfer
Fulham are set to give Everton a major transfer headache when it comes to Demarai Gray’s future after it emerged Willian will leave this summer.
The Cottagers have registered an interest in the Jamaica international this summer, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract at Goodison Park and considers an exit for more regular first-team football.
Gray has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but regular football in England is more likely to appeal to him and now has a greater chance of coming to fruition after the latest update on Friday (30 June).
According to Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the experienced Brazilian winger will leave Fulham when his contract expires at midnight tonight after he couldn’t agree terms on an extension.
Willian joined last summer on a one-year deal and is said to have accepted lesser terms after a poor spell in Brazil, but expected to be rewarded for his fine form last season.
Instead the club wouldn’t match his demands and he will now leave, opening up a fresh opportunity and need for them to make a move for Everton’s Gray during the transfer window.
That could cause problems for Everton and Sean Dyche, who are yet to make progress on any signings so far this summer despite the need for reinforcements being so great.
Gray was among the team’s top scorers last season and often found himself starting as the first-choice number nine when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unavailable.
But he didn’t play enough when everyone was fit, with the boss preferring to use Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi in the wide positions ahead of him.
Fulham are now likely to turn up the pressure in their pursuit for Gray, meaning Everton will have a big decision to make sooner rather than later.
In other Everton news, major transfer boost at Goodison Park amid £68.9m developments.