Everton close to agreement with Al Ettifaq over £8m sale of Demarai Gray after winger appeared to criticise boss Sean Dyche in social media post
- Everton winger Demarai Gray has been quite clear he wants to leave the club
- He believes he was overlooked last season despite working hard in training
Everton are close to agreement with Al Ettifaq over the £8million sale of winger Demarai Gray.
The winger has been quite clear in his desire to leave the club citing a lack of respect from manager Sean Dyche but the Everton manager sought to set the record straight on Tuesday.
Gray had told the Everton boss last week that he had a move agreed but Dyche was at pains to point out that the club has to agree the deal first before any player can be allowed to leave.
Gray believes he was overlooked at key stages of last season despite working hard in training and being given signs that he would be selected should he maintain his training levels.
Disgruntled, this pre-season he refused to train after returning from international duty with Jamaica.
Everton winger Demarai Gray has been quite clear in his desire to leave the club
Disgruntled winger appeared to criticise Everton boss Sean Dyche in social media post
After seeing a move fall through on deadline day, Dyche said that Gray was still part of his squad but the 27-year old took to Instagram to say: ‘It’s so difficult to play for someone who doesn’t show you respect as a person.’
As Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq returned to negotiations on Tuesday, Dyche decided to set the record straight saying: ‘It’s an unfortunate one because I try to keep our business in-house. I think on this occasion, it’s right to reply.
‘Demarai made it clear that he felt he was getting a move (away from Everton) and he told us a move was done, which was interesting to hear from a player.
‘We reminded him of the truth of the fact that no moves are done without this club’s say so.
‘We look after these players; we look at all the different ways of looking after them: mental and wellbeing is big, the tactics and technical, the physical.
‘When it comes to a time like that then you go, ”Well, hang on a minute. You made it clear you didn’t want to train, you didn’t want to be here, and you also said there was a move that was a done deal”.
‘We said it’s not a done deal because this club is the most important. This club will make decisions on the future of you as players and not the other way around.
‘I think it’s right to let our fans know that’s the truth.’
