Sean Dyche has offered his perspective on the situation regarding Demarai Gray which moved into the public domain over the weekend following a post by the player on Instagram.
Gray had taken to the social media platform to express his frustration at not getting a move away from Everton this summer, with two proposed transfers to the Saudi Pro League falling through after initial links with Fulham and Crystal Palace failed to bear fruit.
In an Instagram message that was subsequently removed along with all other images relating to his two years at Goodison Park, Gray suggested that while Everton’s fans have always been great with him, it is difficult to play for someone (i.e. Dyche) who doesn’t “show you respect”.
Gray was hoping to complete a move to Al Ettifaq this week before the Saudi transfer window closed after a £12m switch to Al Shabab didn’t come off last month but Everton, having sold Alex Iwobi and Tom Cannon on deadline day while also letting Neal Maupay go to Brentford on loan, blocked the move.
Dyche told reporters on Saturday that he now expected Gray to stay with the Toffees and be integrated back into the squad so he could build his fitness but with the relationship between player and coach perhaps irreparable, it seems as though the deal with Al Ettifaq could yet go through.
Fabrizio Romano has tweeted today that an agreement is close between the clubs on a deal believed to be around £7m while Gray has agreed terms on a four-year deal.
Meanwhile, In the wake of the player’s social media post, the manager has now felt the need to clarify the club’s stance.
“It’s an unfortunate one because I try to keep our business side of what we do in-house,” Dyche said in an interview on evertonfc.com, “but the players sometimes make their thoughts known in situations, whoever that’s to. I think on this occasion, it’s right to reply.
“Demarai made it clear that he felt he was getting a move 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 one moves without this club’s say so. That’s the truth of it.
“We look after these players; we look at all the different ways of looking after them. Mental and well-being is big, the tactics and technical, the physical. We look at all of that for all these players, and we look after them.
“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, apparently, 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 of this football club.”