Demarai Gray completes Wednesday medical to finalise Everton exit before 10pm
Everton winger Demarai Gray has completed his medical with Al-Ettifaq and will join the Saudi club ahead of the 10pm deadline on Thursday [7 September], according to the Daily Star.
David Maddock wrote in the newspaper’s print edition [7 September, page 44] that Gray’s move to the Steven Gerrard-managed side could land Everton up to £10million.
The Toffees had initially blocked the Jamaica international’s Goodison exit, only to soften their stance when Al-Ettifaq came in with an improved bid, which includes add-ons.
The Daily Star report read: “The former Leicester winger had a medical last night, after an improved offer from Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq paved the way for a deal which could rise to £10m.
“Gray is expected to complete his switch before the Saudi transfer window closes today.”
No coming back
The last thing Everton wanted was for the Saudi transfer window – or indeed the Turkish one next week – to close without a deal being struck for Gray.
The 27-year-old, who has not featured in a matchday squad so far this season, took a swipe at manager Sean Dyche on social media last week.
Dyche has since made it clear that Everton would always have the final say on Gray’s future, and it appears that he will now officially leave the Toffees in the coming hours.
Raising £10m for Gray is not the worst piece of business when you consider he is reported to have joined Everton for around £1.7m in 2021.
However, Dyche could have done with investing that sum back into the squad when the transfer window was still open for British clubs.
As it is, Everton’s already underwhelming attack will now be a player light until January.
Still, with this unwanted saga now dealt with, Dyche can focus on getting the most out of the players who do actually want to be at Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, Match of the Day commentator Robyn Cowen feels “something is just not quite right” at Goodison Park.