Steven Gerrard managed to bring Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq back in the summer but the ex-Everton man already wants to quit the club and return to the Premier League
Steven Gerrard managed to bring Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq back in the summer but the ex-Everton man already wants to quit the club and return to the Premier League Steven Gerrard managed to bring Demarai Gray to Al-Ettifaq back in the summer but the ex-Everton man already wants to quit the club and return to the Premier League
Demarai Gray has told Steven Gerrard that he wants to leave Al-Ettifaq in January.
The former Everton man made an £8million switch to the Saudi Arabian outfit in the summer, but has failed to settle in the Middle East and both he and his family now want to make the move back to the Premier League – which Al-Ettifaq are ready to sanction.
Gerrard’s side want around £5m if they are to let Gray make the move back to England, reports The Sun. Fulham held talks with Gray before he moved to Saudi and Marco Silva remains keen on bringing the winger to west London.
Crystal Palace and Besiktas also showed interest in Gray previously before he chose to take up the Saudi option. He scored 12 goals in 75 games for Everton and, in moments, showed how effective he could be.
Gray is the latest player to leave the English top flight and head to Saudi Arabia before struggling to settle. Gerrard has experienced that first hand after luring Jordan Henderson from Liverpool to the Middle East, only to see him push for an exit within months.
Gray has previously had spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Leicester, where he became a Premier League winner. He made 14 appearances for the Foxes when they completed their Premier League miracle under Claudio Ranieri. Early in his career, the 28-year-old made his name whilst at Birmingham before moving to the King Power Stadium.
Al-Ettifaq are currently in 11th in the Saudi Pro League having endured a mixed season so far. Gerrard’s team have won four of their games, drawing three and losing six.
That has seen the Liverpool icon come under pressure. He has previously held jobs at Rangers and then Aston Villa as he looks to back-up his stellar playing career with an impressive period in the dugout.
Gerrard earns an incredible salary in the Middle East, pocketing more than £15m a year to coach Al-Ettifaq. He recently bought in Michael Beale as his assistant with the pair reuniting following their work together at Rangers. Beale’s most recent post saw him in charge at Sunderland.
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