Everton: Is Andre Gray still a consideration for up front?
By Paul Taylor
Forward Andre Gray has almost become the forgotten man as Everton are continually linked to bigger names, but is he still the most realistic/likely option?
Recent events must have Everton fans almost feeling like they’ve entered a fantasy land or parallel universe. For a start, this week they finally signed the highly-rated Sandro Ramirez at the ridiculously reasonable price of £5.25 million.
On top of that, the Blues have been linked to some big-name forward options, including Raul Jimenez, Olivier Giroud and a certain Wayne Rooney. In the process, one of their earlier targets appears to have been lost in the mix.
Last month, the Daily Mail‘s Laurie Whitell reported on how stalled contract talks between Andre Gray and Burnley, had opened the door for a possible move to Everton. Gray apparently wants a weekly raise from £25,000 to £70,00, but this would shatter Burnley’s strict wage structure.
Whitell added that the 26-year old would be available for around £10 million, which is certainly well within the Blues’ resources. However, their interest seems to have cooled, with the recent reports of them aiming for more ambitious targets.
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The question is, should Everton still be looking at Gray? In addition, would fans be happy with the club signing him, after being linked to internationally renowned players?
A big part of the answer comes down to how productive the Wolverhampton-born player is on the pitch. And of course, this is something that can’t be known beforehand.
If you look at Gray’s performances in recent seasons, perspective plays a significant part. Some will see a player who scored less goals after going up a level – 23 league goals in the Championship during 2015/16 and just nine in the Premier League last season.
However, the flip side to this argument is the former England C team international notched his nine goals in just 26 starts. In addition, Burnley ranked third-bottom in the Premier League for chances created during 2016/17, meaning he had more pressure to produce on limited opportunities.
There are also other aspects to include, such as Gray’s ability to fit into Ronald Koeman’s style of play. The Everton manager plays a different system compared to what the youngster is used to at Burnley.
One final factor to consider, is competition for Gray’s signature from other Premier League teams, including Tottenham, West Ham and newly promoted Newcastle. Taking everything into account, it now seems highly unlikely he will end up moving to the blue side of Merseyside.
Next: At what point is re-signing Wayne Rooney bad business?
If Everton do not secure the services of one of their big-name targets, what would your reaction be to signing Gray? Do you think he would be a good acquisition, or would it feel like a big letdown after all the speculation surrounding the likes of Jimenez, Giroud and Rooney? Share your thoughts in the comments section.