Everton forward Demarai Gray remains locked in talks to seal his long-awaited Goodison Park exit and manager Sean Dyche may now force him to empty his locker after what he did this week.
The Jamaica international hit out at manager Dyche on social media on Sunday [3 September] after the club blocked a move to Al-Ettifaq according to Ben Jacobs.
The reliable CBS journalist, taking to his personal Twitter account (5 September) also shared that Gray’s exit is still possible and a deal could be done at around £7m with the wantaway forward pushing to exit Goodison Park.
According to 90Min (4 September), Gray remains in talks with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq over a late summer move in order to end his controversial period on Merseyside with his relationship with Dyche now fractious.
Gray’s future remains unclear ahead of the transfer window closing for Saudi Arabian clubs on Thursday [7 September], but it appears as though he is still trying to force a move away, according to 90Min.
Gray is yet to feature for Everton this season and by the looks of it, the Toffees’ stance on his potential exit was understandable as they were unable to secure a replacement due to the window closing.
However, that stance may now dramatically change after yet another new Goodison saga this summer, the latest in a long line of them on the Merseyside especially involving Bill Kenwright and Farhad Moshiri.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano tweeted early on 5 August that Gray had missed Everton training for three consecutive days as he only wanted to join Fulham but was still waiting for an agreement between the two clubs.
Not only were Saudi Arabian and Fulham clubs interested in Gray’s services throughout the remaining days of the summer window but also Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille who submitted a last-gasp deadline day bid (L’Équipe, 1 September).
Now, fast forward a few weeks later, and the former Leicester City man still finds himself an Everton and at a potential crossroads in his career because of the club’s decision on his future.
But how Dyche will attempt to navigate through an unhappy player in the Goodison Park camp remains to be seen but with the Toffees yet to get their season off on the right tone, they simply have to avoid unhealthy and needless sagas which could certainly suggest that Dyche will force Gray to empty his Goodison Park locker for good.
Time is running out though, with just two days left of the Saudi transfer window. What is abundantly clear, Demarai Gray is certainly finished at Everton.