Everton transfer exit for Demarai Gray ‘has to happen’ as talks opened for ‘good profit’ sale – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Everton making a “good profit” by selling Demarai Gray this summer “has to happen” to allow Sean Dyche to operate in the market says Kevin Campbell.
The Toffees winger is a target for various Premier League sides, including Fulham and Crystal Palace, but is now “in talks” with Al Hilal [i News, 11 July] after the Saudi side came in with a “good offer” [Alan Myers, 25 June].
With Everton wanting somewhere close to 10 times what they paid for him from Bayer Leverkusen two years ago Campbell is clear that there is no decision to make and the 27-year-old goes during this window.
The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News: “Everton haven’t got the luxury of battling to keep players who can bring in good money.
“They got Demarai Gray for £1.5million. Now if they’re going to make profit on him, and a good profit at that, it has to come in for the manager to be able to move and shake and recruit players that he wants.
“So I think it’s something that has to happen.”
Gray is one of the few dynamic attacking options in the Everton squad at present but was largely seen as third-choice by Dyche for the wide positions last season.
If he is minded to go with Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil again next term then a hefty profit for one of his substitutes is clearly a sacrifice he would be prepared to make.
And if it frees up the Toffees to finally land some new forwards that fit the manager’s plans, and avoid the same disappointment suffered in the Rodrigo pursuit from Leeds United, then it will be a worthwhile trade-off.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have approached Manchester United over a summer deal for a man who Erik ten Hag refused to let move to a promoted side.