Everton blocked 27-year-old’s exit on transfer deadline day – journalist
Everton blocked Demarai Gray’s loan move to Lille on deadline day.
That’s according to L’Equipe journalist Romain Lafont, who reported that the Toffees made a dramatic U-turn on their decision to offload the winger.
Gray looked set to seal a permanent move away from Goodison Park all summer, with the Jamaica international’s contract expiring next summer.
Despite posing as one of the club’s few attacking threats since his arrival two years ago, Gray was thought to be pushing for an exit and Everton were eager to make a decent profit to help improve their finances.
The forward only joined for £1.7 million in 2021, however the Toffees were reportedly looking to rake in over £10m for his signature.
With the likes of Fulham, Crystal Palace and clubs in Saudi Arabia all said to be holding talks with Gray, it came as a big surprise when he still remained on Merseyside this morning.
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Demarai Gray had already completed a medical with Lille
The latest reports on transfer deadline day claimed that Lille were looking to launch a loan bid to bring Demarai Gray to France, however Lafont has now revealed that Everton blocked the potential move.
The Toffees reportedly agreed a deadline day deal for Gray to join Lille on a season-long loan and had even completed a medical before the Merseyside club ‘abruptly withdrew’ and decided to keep hold of the attacker.
It’s unclear whether Everton are hoping to bring Gray back into the squad or they would prefer to make a profit on him before the Saudi Pro League window slams shut next week.
However, the 27-year-old remains absent from the Toffees’ match-day squad today, having not featured for the club since Everton’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth last season.
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