Everton’s summer transfer window has hardly set the world alight.
The Toffees are used to spending a pretty hefty sum of money during summer markets but this has been completely different.
Rafa Benitez has entered Goodison Park and spent an accumulative £1.7m on four new signings. However, just one of those acquisitions was brought for any money - Demarai Gray.
Everton entered the window needing to sign more wingers but this was an addition which came with very little fanfare.
Before a spell with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, Gray was a bit-part player for Leicester City. He possesses speed and unpredictability, but sadly his consistency is questionable.
He only found the net on 13 occasions in 169 matches for the Foxes, so bringing him back to the Premier League seemed a strange decision from the Toffees hierarchy. However, on his competitive Everton debut at Goodison Park on Saturday, he was their star man.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring from the spot and has so often been their go-to player in a crisis, but on this occasion, Gray stole the show.
Everton only had 30% of the possession at Elland Road in their 2-2 draw with Leeds but Gray helped them to get further up the pitch and proved he may have a crucial role in their side this term.
The 25-year-old popped up with a vital goal, turning inside the area and then finding the net from an incredibly tight angle. It was a terrific finish from a player who has been lamented for a lack of end product throughout his career.
The fact that he found the back of the net was a plus but his overall game beyond that also caught the eye.
Everton’s summer signing completed 100% of his passes and was successful with two of the four dribbles he attempted. Furthermore, he provided two interceptions and a solitary tackle, showing that he can perform in the defensive third of the pitch too.
Time will tell whether the 25-year-old will prove to be a good long-term investment but he’s had a bright start to life in Merseyside. Perhaps Benitez will be the manager to finally extract more end product from Gray’s game.