Why Tottenham signing Demarai Gray would be a waste of resources
According to claims from transfer expert Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window Podcast (h/t Daily Express), Tottenham are plotting a move for out-of-favour Leicester City winger Demarai Gray ahead of the January window. The reputed insider believes Gray, who is out of contract at the King Power Stadium next summer, also has significant interest from clubs elsewhere in Europe.
Profile
A youth exponent of Birmingham City, Demarai Gray made his senior breakthrough for the Blues in the Championship during the 2013-14 season. He carved out a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in the second-tier over the following two campaigns, scoring 8 times in 78 appearances for Birmingham in all competitions.
Gray earned a move to the top-flight with Leicester City in January 2016 and was a part of the Foxes’ historic Premier League triumph at the end of the 2015-16 season. The jet-heeled winger, though, hasn’t really managed to establish himself as a regular starter in East Midlands over the past few years.
Gray was a key squad player under former Foxes’ boss Claude Puel but has found himself down the pecking order since the appointment of Brendan Rodgers. He started only 3 league games last term and is yet to feature in the Premier League so far this season, featuring only once in the League Cup.
Tottenham should aim higher than Gray
Tottenham have enjoyed a stunning start to the 2020-21 campaign under Jose Mourinho after a productive summer window that saw Gareth Bale, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Sergio Reguilon, Carlos Vinicius, Matt Doherty and Joe Hart come through the door.
The Lilywhites are looking like credible challengers for the Premier League and they shouldn’t hesitate to make further additions to their squad in January to keep moving in the right direction. However, Demarai Gray is hardly the sort of player Tottenham should be looking at if they are really serious about building a squad capable of winning silverware.
Gray was once regarded among the hottest young attacking talents in English football but has seen his development stall at Leicester over the past few years. The 24-year-old has flattered to deceive more often than not, with lack of consistency and significant end product cited among the key drawbacks in his game.
He has managed only 13 goals and 17 assists in 168 appearances for the Foxes, which isn’t the kind of tally that should be enough to warrant a move to one of the top clubs in the Premier League. Agreed, the winger would be available at a knockdown price in January due to his contract situation at Leicester, but he hardly ticks the box as an upgrade on any of Tottenham’s existing wide options.
With quality players like Heung-min Son, Erik Lamela, Gareth Bale, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn competing for places on the flanks, Gray is unlikely to be a regular starter in North London.
Read More
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Verdict
Suffice to say, Tottenham might as well look at other options if they are genuinely interested in improving their squad in January. Demarai Gray has been far too inconsistent over the years and although he still has room for development at 24, the Lilywhites would be better off not taking a punt on him.
