Everton thought they had secured a £1.7m masterstroke – then insulted their manager and were sold

Transfer masterstrokes have been rare for Everton in the modern era. But in the summer of 2021, it looked like they managed to pull one off.

Following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti and the controversial appointment of Rafael Benitez as manager, it became apparent that pre-season was going to be a tough one for the Blues. After years of lavish spending, there was also a sense that new signings would not be expensive.

The first offers indicated this. Andros Townsend arrived on a free transfer after leaving Newcastle United. Then, for just £1.7m, so did Demarai Gray.

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The price of the wing certainly sparked interest. After all, Gray had once been a brilliant prospect at Leicester City and had frequently put in strong performances against Everton for the Foxes. When he joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, there was a feeling that he would start in the Bundesliga.

But after just 10 top-flight appearances for Bayer, he returned to the Premier League again with Everton.

In the early weeks of the season, Gray shined. Goals against Leeds United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley have helped Everton make a surprisingly strong start under Benitez, with the England youth international revitalized behind centre-forward.

Even when the wheels began to come off for Benitez in the coming weeks, it was often Gray who provided a spark. He scored in the Merseyside derby to reduce Liverpool’s two-goal lead – although Everton would go on to lose 4-1 anyway – then scored a stunning stoppage-time winner against Arsenal to ease the pressure on his manager .

Benitez was not to last long though, with Frank Lampard eventually drafted in to replace him at the end of January. While the Chelsea legend managed to steer Everton away from relegation trouble, he never found a way to get the best out of Gray in the way Benitez did.

Indeed, Gray’s most telling contribution under Lampard was Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s dramatic winner against Crystal Palace in 2022.

When Lampard was also given his marching orders, it was a similar story under Sean Dyche. With Everton short of attacking options due to a lack of investment and a number of injuries, the new boss would use Gray on an emergency basis as a centre-forward. But beyond that, Dyche preferred the industry of Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil in wide areas to Gray’s flashes of ingenuity.

Gray played as a centre-forward when Everton secured their Premier League status on the final day of the season against Bournemouth and there was a feeling during the summer that he would be moved on if the opportunity arose. The Blues, of course, were on the verge of their first PSR fee at the time and sales were needed.

Gray finally got the chance to leave Everton after the 2023 summer transfer window closed when Saudi club Al-Ettifaq made the move. The sale was not without problems, however.

After Dyche said he did not expect Gray to leave the club, the forward took to social media himself to offer an apparent retort. “Everton fans have always been great to me but it’s so hard to play for someone who doesn’t show you respect as a person,” he said on Instagram.

Dyche reacted to the comments in an interview with the club’s official channels. “It’s an unfortunate one because I’m trying to keep our business in-house,” he said. “I think on this occasion, it is only fair that I respond.

“Demarai made it clear that he felt he was getting a move (away from Everton) and told us a move had been made, which was interesting to hear from a player.”

However, it was a move that benefited the Blues in the end. Reports put the fee received for Gray at around £8 million, and in Jack Harrison, Dyche was able to turn to a loan player who better suited his priorities as a manager.

Gray has scored four goals in 23 Saudi Pro League outings, meaning the Evertonians didn’t necessarily lament their exit.

So a masterstroke? Not quite, not exactly. But smart business when the football club was otherwise in turmoil? Absolute