Matthew Chadder

Mon 7 August 2023 8:10, UK

Demarai Gray’s absence from the Everton squad against Sporting Lisbon was an issue of fitness, amid speculation that the player could leave this summer, according to manager Sean Dyche.

Everton took on Portuguese side Sporting CP in their final pre-season match and rounded off their preparations with an impressive 1-0 victory thanks to a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty.

One player who wasn’t involved was Gray, with the 27-year-old currently linked with a switch to Fulham (Fabrizio Romano, 5 August), although Dyche has suggested his lack of involvement was down to a lack of match fitness, not a potential exit with Gray having returned to training late due to representing Jamaica at the Gold Cup.

“He came back in late, so we are still having to monitor his body,” the Everton boss replied when asked about the winger, in quotes reported by the Liverpool Echo (7 August), who wrote that Crystal Palace as well as Fulham remain interested in Gray.

“He is still not ready.”

Concerning

Although Dyche’s explanation might offer some assurances over why the forward did not play against Sporting CP, it is still hard to believe with all signs currently pointing towards a potential exit for Gray.

As mentioned by Romano, the Jamaica international is only interested in a move to Fulham and is not training with the squad, and was likely not involved against Sporting CP to avoid picking up any potential injury.

If Gray were to get a knock now, it would throw his potential switch from Goodison Park to Craven Cottage up in the air, and that is something the player would not want.

Or perhaps Dyche is telling the truth, and he simply was not fit enough to feature in the match. However, it seems strange that he couldn’t at least be involved on the bench.

Whichever way it is looked at, it seems increasingly likely now that Gray’s exit is getting closer.

In other Everton news, the club are readying a shock move to sign a forward from a fellow Premier League rival.