By Callum O’Connell
Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq gave Everton 24 hours to change their minds over selling Demarai Gray on Sunday 03 September, according to Ben Jacobs.
The sports broadcaster shared via his personal Twitter account that Gray’s Instagram post was a direct response to the club informing the Saudi Arabian side they would not be selling him this summer.
With that in mind, it looks as though the Everton board will look to respond to that ultimatum before the end of Monday 4 September, and it could come within hours.
There has seemingly been a change of plans regarding Gray’s situation at Goodison Park after the club sold Alex Iwobi to Premier League rivals Fulham in a £22million deadline-day move, with the club now short for depth on the wing.
Gray is now likely to stay on Merseyside, despite spending the summer expecting to move away from the club, with Premier League and Saudi Arabian clubs constantly linked with a move for the Jamaican international, but as of yet, nothing has materialised.
The winger appears to be frustrated at the decision, having been cast aside by Everton initially, only to now be refused a move away as they require his presence in the squad to provide depth and cover out wide in case of further injuries during what can be considered a minor crisis.
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Dwight McNeil made his return from injury against Sheffield United, but Jack Harrison remains out, leaving Gray alongside youngster Lewis Dobbin as the only cover for the wide positions.
Iwobi had started the season as the first-choice left-midfielder in McNeil’s absence, but his departure means Gray will now fill the role as McNeil’s understudy, with James Garner the preferred option in a makeshift right-midfield position.
We will learn in the next few hours whether Gray’s statement will have any effect on the decision of the board, or whether they will stick to their choice of keeping him at the club and hope he plays the role required of him for the upcoming season.
In other Everton news, another £20m+ loss shows a further display of Moshiri’s failures at Goodison.