Everton and Fulham have a “verbal agreement” to transfer Demarai Gray but a move is blocked until replacements are brought in, according to Sky Sports reports Rob Dorsett and Alan Myers.
The Jamaica international has been attracting interest from within the Premier League and abroad, with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia thought to have made a strong offer, and both Crystal Palace and Besiktas in the race.
The Toffees have signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan and appear to be closing in on a deal for Portuguese striker Youseff Chermiti, but still want more attacking options so Gray is reportedly not allowed to leave until they are found.
Dorsett reported via Twitter on Monday night (31 July): “Excl: Fulham have verbal agreement with Everton for Demarai Gray but he won’t be allowed to leave until Sean Dyche has added to squad.
“27-year-old had interest from Crystal Palace, Besiktas and clubs in the Saudi Pro League. Personal terms won’t be an issue. Story with Alan Myers.”
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Gray to leave so it is little surprise that an agreement has been reached, but it’s surely the right move to hold off until replacements have been brought in.
That is the opposite strategy to the transfer business at striker where Ellis Simms was sold to Coventry City at a time when a new man was already badly needed.
One more attacker seems close in Chermiti, despite surprise on the 19-year-old’s part, and Danjuma is nominally a replacement for Gray already.
But the 27-year-old has been a valuable option when called upon at times in the past two seasons, so without more signings through the door he could certainly still contribute.
What the fee involved turns out to be will be important as it could help bring more Dyche targets in, so lining up incoming deals and turning the money from Fulham around immediately would be the preferred outcome.
With just a year left on his contract and having become third choice behind Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil it is probably a necessary sacrifice to take the money for Gray, but after an injury to the former Burnley man and still only two signings made this summer it is not a done deal yet.
In other Everton news, a forgotten man at Goodison has been tipped to solve a problem for his manager and join the “Saudi exodus”.
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