In a recent report, an unnamed Premier scout told Le Phocéen that Everton could face heavy competition in pursuit of Leicester City winger Demarai Gray next summer. It is believed that the Toffees will have to battle it out with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Olympique Marseille in the race to land the English wide player when his contract at the King Power Stadium runs out at the end of this campaign (translated by Sport Witness).
Gray’s Underwhelming Season Under Brendan Rodgers’ Tutelage
The 24-year-old has experienced a lacklustre season at the East Midlands club after struggling to earn regular playing minutes for Brendan Rodgers’ first XI. Gray has participated in six matches for the Foxes this term, banging in three goals and securing one assist in various competitions.
The Birmingham-born winger played a far more prominent role for Leicester in the previous campaign when he made 29 appearances for them, scoring three goals and grabbing five assists across all fronts. However, he lacked consistency with his performances in the opposition half as he averaged 1.1 shots, 0.8 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season. He did well to distribute possession accurately after completing 87.3% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
At the moment, Gray is surplus to requirements at the King Power Stadium, so he needs to switch clubs this month if he wants to play regularly at the highest level. However, if he ends up staying and honouring his contract at Leicester, then Goodison Park could be an attractive destination for him to consider next summer.
What Are The English Wing Wizard’s Strengths And Weaknesses?
Gray boasts blistering pace and is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet. He loves to take on his marker and beat them by turning on the afterburners out on the wide areas. The English speedster usually packs a lot of power with his shots at goal but needs to be more productive in the final third if he wants to unlock his true potential.
At 24, Gray is about to hit the peak stage of his playing career, so there is still plenty of time for him to prove his worth at the highest level week in week out. Maybe a fresh start away from Leicester could help him improve and take his game to another level.
Is Gray The Right Choice For The Foxes?
Gray will add more pace and goals to the Toffees attack and could even provide some serious competition for Alex Iwobi at Goodison Park in the coming seasons. Plus, with Bernard’s contract with Everton expiring at the end of next season, Carlo Ancelotti would be wise to sign Gray on a free transfer which will leave him free to cash in on Bernard next summer.
