Queens Park Rangers are eyeing a loan deal for Andre Gray but the striker’s wages are making it difficult for Watford to get him off their books, as reported by the Express.
Even before the arrival of Emmanuel Dennis, Josh King and Ashley Fletcher in this transfer window, an £18 million, £70,000-a-week centre-forward appeared to be slipping down the pecking order at Vicarage Road.
In truth, he only has himself to blame.
Since joining Watford from Burnley for what was a club-record deal in 2017, the late-blooming Gray has scored just 19 times in 113 league games – including a grand total of five during a 2020/21 campaign consisting of more missed sitters than an ‘own goals and gaffes’ stocking-filler DVD.
Watford, understandably, would love to get their highest earner off the books, especially as Gray doesn’t appear to be part of Xisco Munoz’s plans.
Doing so, however, is proving easier said than done.
QPR want Watford striker Andre Gray but can anyone afford him?
Gray has been left out of the club’s first two top-flight fixtures but, despite enquiries from a number of Championship clubs, it appears he is no closer to an exit with just one week left in the transfer window.
According to the Express, QPR, Middlesbrough and a Birmingham City side who weren’t exactly lacking in the firepower department during Saturday’s 5-0 thumping of Luton Town are all interested.
But, just to complicate matters, the report adds Gray would rather see out the final ten months of his £3.6 million-a-year contract at Watford than take a pay cut in search of more regular first-team football elsewhere.
The Winston Bogarde of Watford, if you will.
Furthermore, given that Middlesbrough are expected to complete the signing of Sporting Lisbon’s Andraz Sporar, the battle for Gray’s signature could soon become a two-horse race.
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