Demarai Gray ‘pushing’ for Everton exit as Fulham ‘haggle’ over £10m transfer fee
Winger Demarai Gray is “pushing” for an exit from Everton this summer, according to newspaper journalist Alan Nixon.
The journalist reported via his Patreon on Monday (31 July) that Premier League rivals Fulham are haggling over a deal for the attacker.
Nixon added that Gray was missing from Everton training amid growing impatience that a fee has yet to be agreed upon.
“Demarai Gray is pushing for an exit at Everton as Fulham haggle over a deal,” Nixon wrote on his Patreon. “Attacker Gray was missing from training with Sean Dyche’s squad with impatience growing that the fee has not been settled.
“Fulham have been bidding below what Everton want for the new Jamaica international who is in the last year of his contract.
“The Toffees want as much as possible for Gray but Fulham are still under £10million with their packages for him.”
Exit likely
Everton boss Sean Dyche cannot exactly afford to lose many players this summer, particularly those playing in the final third.
Forward Arnaut Danjuma has arrived from Villarreal on a season-long loan, but it is unlikely to be enough to fire the Toffees to a comfortable league finish next time out.
His arrival could, however, have a direct impact on the future of Gray, who seems destined to leave Goodison Park this summer.
Danjuma has been playing in a central role in recent times, but he previously played out wide for Bournemouth in the Premier League, meaning he could replace Gray in Dyche’s starting XI.
While it remains possible that Gray will remain with the Merseyside club for another season, it does seem unlikely given how he has been missing from Everton training.
An exit is, therefore, on the cards this summer, with the player perhaps wanting a new challenge and potentially even a better salary at West London club Fulham.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have “mild interest” in one Championship striker, according to BBC Sport.