Demarai Gray now in Saudi talks to join Everton transfer window exodus, Amadou Onana could still follow
Demarai Gray is now “in talks” with Al Hilal over an Everton exit this summer with the club ready for further bids on the squad, i News reports.
The Toffees winger has interest from within the Premier League from Fulham [Sky Sports, 10 June] and Crystal Palace [Daily Mail, 2 July] but is currently negotiating a possible departure to the Saudi Pro League after the PIF-backed club came in with a sizeable offer.
A previous report from i News (28 June) claimed that Everton wanted “far in excess” of £10million for the 27-year-old, as they look to fund incoming business.
Sales have already been made and more could follow, as Mark Douglas writes in his Tuesday (11 July) report for i News: “Everton sold Ellis Simms to Coventry for an initial payment of £3.5m while Ishe Samuels-Smith moved to Chelsea for £4m.
“But the club are open to offers for other players, with Demarai Gray in talks with Al-Hilal and interest in midfielder Amadou Onana, who may be sold for the right price.”
Fire sale
It looks like anyone at Goodison Park could leave for a decent offer currently, especially those who are not expected to be front-line contributors every week.
Gray has been an effective part of the Toffees squad in the past couple of years but after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for just £1.7m [Sky Sports] it would represent a significant profit if the Saudi investment drive is ready to stump up closer to 10 times that.
If another attacking option leaves before replacements arrive it can’t help but put some supporters on edge, but as the third choice option for Dyche behind Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi perhaps it is impossible to turn down that sort of money.
The elephant in the room this summer remains the future of Onana, as his sale price would likely surpass anybody else in the squad.
A nailed on starter if he is still here next season he could fund multiple incoming deals so if a club puts the £60m he is thought to be worth on the table it would give Dyche a decision to make.
There are arguments for keeping each of Simms, Samuels-Smith, Gray and Onana, but with holes to fill and his own targets in mind it looks like the manager is willing to make sacrifices to free himself up to make moves.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have made a move to fill one gap in the first-team squad with a player from a Premier League giant.