Barry Cass, the host of Toffee TV’s latest Everton Daily Extra YouTube video, has been analysing the potential impact of Demarai Gray at Goodison Park amid links between Rafael Benitez’s side and the winger.
Reports have circulated in recent days that Everton are looking to sign Gray from Bayer Leverkusen for just £1.5 million (as per The Times via Daily Mail), despite the winger only joining the German side from Leicester City last January.
Will Benitez succeed at Everton?
Yes!
No!
It seems like Benitez is targeting wingers this summer, with links suggesting he could also move for Allan Saint-Maximin, but another former Newcastle winger appears to be heading to Goodison Park, with Andros Townsend set to link up with his former boss.
Gray could be making a swift return to England and Cass analysed what he could be like.
“Demarai Gray was one that got out, I know Everton have been looking at him since last week. £1.5 million is the release fee on that.
“Just turned 25 years of age, can be excellent on his day, got a lot of pace about him. End product’s not brilliant, but something to work on. Everton haven’t got enough players who can travel with the ball at any kind of pace.
“I think anyone watching Everton would agree [with] that, so £1.5 million isn’t a big outlay in the slightest.”
TIF thoughts on Gray potentially joining Everton…
Gray managed to rack up 169 appearances in all competitions during his time with the Foxes, but that only saw a return of 13 goals and 17 assists, with that level of inconsistency perhaps a reason for his Premier League minutes being limited to just 18 during the 2020/21 campaign.
With Gray already being linked with a move back to the top flight, it would appear that his move to Germany has not been as he expected, with the winger being hooked off at half-time in consecutive games in March and then not getting on the pitch for the following five matches.