Everton have lacked a player like Demarai Gray, says former Toffees defender Michael Ball.
Everton signed Gray from Bayer Leverkusen for just under £2m during the summer transfer window and the 25-year-old has been able to make an immediate impact at Goodison Park.
He scored in three consecutive games against Leeds United, Brighton and Burnley and played a big role in Andros Townsend’s equaliser versus Manchester United last weekend.
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Ultimately, for Ball, Gray is what Everton have been missing. On the English winger, he exclusively told TIF:
“He’s exactly what Everton have lacked, pace, direction, going forward with the ball at pace. He seems to be fitting in pretty well, very quickly, and hopefully that can continue.”
For less than £2m, Gray, who has also impressed former Everton forward Gary Lineker, is certainly looking like the bargain of the season. On top of Gray, Townsend is also proving to be a shrewd bit of business.
The 30-year-old arrived at Goodison Park on a free transfer after his contract at Crystal Palace expired and has made a similar impact to his compatriot. Like Gray, Townsend has also scored three times in the Premier League this season, including that all-important goal against United.