Demarai Gray to join Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia from Everton on Wednesday as deal now to be signed – Sky Sports
Demarai Gray is “heading to Steven Gerrard” in Saudi Arabia with his Everton exit set to be completed on Wednesday, according to Pete Graves.
The Sky Sports journalist reported via Twitter (6 September) that the move is due to be completed as talks between the Toffees and Al-Ettifaq are currently in the “final stages”.
Tom White reported “breaking transfer news” live on Sky Sports News the same morning that “the deal is likely to be signed today” following “a lot of arguments” between the winger and Everton.
The relationship between the 27-year-old and the Toffees appears to have broken down following the close of the English transfer window, with Gray apparently criticising Sean Dyche via social media [BBC Sport, 3 September] and the manager coming out publicly to assert his authority [Liverpool Echo, 5 September].
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Gray looked likely to move on for most of the transfer window so him leaving in itself isn’t a major surprise, but the fact that it is now happening under such a cloud and apparently somewhat against the club’s will is a definite negative turn.
The Jamaica international looked like he was headed to Fulham at one stage but Saudi Arabian interest has been present throughout.
Alex Iwobi subsequently heading to Craven Cottage after it emerged he would not be signing the new contract that had long been hoped for looks to have thrown a spanner into the works.
And after failing to sign Willy Gnonto on deadline day it now leaves Dyche short of wide men to let Gray leave as well, hence the apparent decision to keep him as the window shut, while Liverpool legend Gerrard is set to be the man to benefit.
With the Saudi deadline a week later the door was still open for a move to the Middle East, and it looks like the club have decided to avoid an unhappy situation getting worse by cashing in again.
In some ways that makes sense on a deal that was in the offing for some time, but throws the failure to land a third winger this summer – Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma have come in on loan – into a poor light, and, as ever, it is the team that will suffer.
In other Everton news, a “very confident” update has emerged on the “favourites” to step into the investment gap left by the breakdown of the MSP Sports Capital deal.