Everton close in on trio of new signings

 

Everton are close to signing Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend and Asmir Begovic to kickstart Rafa Benitez's reign as manager, claims The Daily Telegraph.

 

Townsend and Begovic are currently out of contract after their respective contracts with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth expired at the start of the month.

 

Gray is set to join in a £1.9m move from Bayer Leverkusen after just 12 months at the club following his release from Leicester last summer.

 

Everton are looking for a new back-up goalkeeper to Jordan Pickford after Robin Olsen returned to Roma after a one-year loan deal.

 

Begovic was Bournemouth's No.1 goalkeeper in the Championship last season and was named in the division's official Team of the Season.

 

However, since 2017/18, only Pickford (12) has committed more errors directly leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League than Begovic (10).

 

 

Benitez is also keen to bolster Everton's attacking options with natural wingers after players like James Rodriguez, Bernard and Gylfi Sigurdsson were used out wide last season.

 

Townsend, 30, made 34 league appearances for Palace last season and weighed in with six goal involvements, while Gray was limited to just 10 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen.

 

Of players that attempted at least 25 crosses (excluding corners) in the Premier League last season, Townsend had the best success rate in the division (33%).