Monaco and Benfica have both expressed an interest in Leicester City wide-man Demarai Gray, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian. The 24-year-old – who sees his contract run out in summer – is a target for Premier League club Crystal Palace, but they will face European competition if they are to secure such a signing.
Monaco and Benfica Join Race for Leicester Winger Demarai Gray
Demarai Gray’s Progress Halted at Leicester City
In recent years, the former England U21 international had been making steady progress with The Foxes and was gradually being integrated into the first-team setup. However, his career has seemingly taken a backwards step, with the winger only playing 18 minutes of Premier League Football.
The rise of Harvey Barnes and the continued form of Marc Albrighton, combined with the more than capable options on the bench in Cengiz Under and Ayoze Perez, has left Gray nowhere near the first team, suggesting a move away would benefit both him and the club.
The plethora of attacking options that Brendan Rodgers now possesses means Gray has been confined to plying his trade in the Premier League Two. However, he has still shown he is capable enough, scoring three times and assisting a further goal in four appearances.
Crystal Palace Face European Competition
Gray had been told he could leave for around £2 million, a nominal fee for a player of his quality. This initially sparked the interest of Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace side, who have since had positive talks regarding a move to Selhurst Park.
However, The Eagles now have Monaco and Benfica for company, who are expected to monitor the 24-year-old’s situation.
Gray is also believed to have turned down an approach from German side Bayer Leverkusen, perhaps suggesting an intent to stay in England. But, with the transfer window coming to its concluding stages, the Leicester City winger will be hoping that a deal materialises sooner rather than later.
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