Everton transfer update: New club ready to ‘pounce’ to sign Demarai Gray with current move set to collapse – Sky Sports
The new Saudi club interested in Demarai Gray are ready to “pounce” and offer him a contract if his move from Everton to Al Shabab collapses, according to Sky Sports.
Sky Sports News presenter Rob Jones said live on Monday (28 August) that the winger’s expected transfer could be “about to collapse”, with changes in Al Shabab’s board room putting it “in doubt”, but the other Saudi club is “ready to pounce on the chance to sign” the 27-year-old.
The unnamed new suitor is now “ready to offer Gray a deal” if the move falls through as the Jamaica international looks set for the Goodison Park exit.
Having previously appeared set to make a Premier League switch to Fulham Gray had reached the brink of instead heading to Al Shabab after a reported £12million bid came in, before issues emerged at the last minute on Sunday along with reported interest from the new club.
Both elements appear to have advanced 24 hours later with the proposed move closer to falling apart and the rival side apparently ready to pull the trigger on their own.
Late drama
The developments at Al Shabab have clearly arisen at the worst time for this transfer and the long-awaited Gray move has once again been knocked in a new direction.
From his point of view it is surely better for it to happen before he gets there and finds himself suddenly unwanted by a new regime, but Everton have likely been banking on the money from this sale for some weeks now.
If the other Saudi club can put a comparable offer on the table to both the Toffees and to their exit-bound winger then it might not be too much of an issue.
But any changes to the money involved or the circumstances he would be heading to might mean it is not a viable alternative.
After links to a move away for most of the summer it would be hugely frustrating all round if for Gray if he were stuck at Goodison Park past the deadline.
If that happens then Sean Dyche can surely make some use of him, as the former Leicester man has been a capable performer in the past two seasons and the manager has been after wide men all widow despite adding Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison.
But the lack of transfer fee could be a problem with big money now tied up in Beto’s arrival from Udinese, so it is likely that all parties hope another deal can be agreed for Gray before the Saudi deadline on 20 September.
In other Everton news, the Toffees still want to get into a late transfer “fight” for a young attacking talent.