Leicester City winger Demarai Gray is reportedly close to completing a move to Bayer Leverkusen. German publication BILD Sport is reporting that the 24-year-old has agreed personal terms with the Bundesliga side, but the deal is being held up as the two clubs haggle over the final transfer fee for the player.
Last month, Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed that he was happy for Gray to look for a new club, as the former Birmingham City man does not fit into his plans for this season and beyond.
Demarai Gray Nearing Bayer Leverkusen Switch
Gray Has Only Made One Premier League Appearance This Season
If Gray’s move to Leverkusen does go through in the final days of the winter transfer window, then it would represent a rather low-key exit for someone who has played his part in the Foxes’ glorious recent history.
Gray has been a Leicester player for exactly 5 years, having joined the club in January 2016. At the end of that 2015/16 season, he picked up a Premier League winner’s medal as Claudio Ranieri led the team to an extraordinary title triumph.
However, Gray has since been unable to nail down a place in the Leicester starting eleven in the years since, and his story with the club now looks likely to come to an end in the coming days.
Bayer Leverkusen, currently third in the Bundesliga, have focused strongly on signing players from the British market this month. Dutch defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah has joined from Manchester United, while Celtic’s Jeremie Frimpong has also signed for the club for an undisclosed fee.
Brendan Rodgers Happy to Sanction Gray Exit
In mid-December, Brendan Rodgers admitted that an exit from Leicester would be beneficial for Gray’s career moving forwards. However, the Northern Irishman was keen to point out that the player has always displayed a commendable attitude in training despite being out-of-favour at the club.
Rodgers said: “It’s pretty clear with Demarai that he’s looking to move on. His attitude to training has been first class; he’s been very professional.
“He is at the stage of his career where he has been here a long time and hasn’t maybe nailed down a place. A fresh start may be the [best] course for him.”
Gray has played under four different managers in his time as a Leicester player and has scored 13 goals in 169 games for the club.
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