Goalscorer Demari Gray already proving shrewd £1.7m acquisition for Everton following Leeds draw

In terms of transfer fees Everton have paid, no-one may ever eclipse the ultimate bargain that was Seamus Coleman.

The Blues paid a meagre £60,000 to Sligo Rovers for the right-back in 2009 - not that supporters need reminding.

Since being unearthed from the League of Ireland, Coleman has gone on to make 352 appearances at Goodison Park and earn the captain's armband.

Each of his outings have cost Everton just £170 each in transfer fees. It really was an absolute steal of a deal.

Previous profligacy

In the subsequent period after Coleman's arrival, though, Evertonians have had to endure profligacy from numerous managers when given cash to splash.

Roberto Martinez wasted £13.5 million on Oumar Niasse and Ronald Koeman paid £22.5 million for Yannick Bolasie. Davy Klaassen was a similar price.

Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce forked out a combined £47.5 million on Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott, while Marco Silva supposedly paid up to £34 million for Alex Iwobi. The list could go on.

As a ramification of the heavy spending, Everton posted losses of £111.9 million in their latest accounts in January 2020.

Now the club is vulnerable to financial fair play rules.

And despite being completely innocent, previous recklessness in the transfer market has meant Rafa Benitez's been forced to bear the brunt of it after taking the Goodison reins.

Thrifty Benitez

While it's clear a squad overhaul is required, the Spaniard has been restricted when it comes to his recruitment this summer.

In fairness, Benitez knew what he was getting into when he agreed to take the job.

The ex-Real Madrid surpremo is pragmatic enough to know Everton can’t again be gung-ho in this summer’s window.

Cut-price deals and getting full value for money like the Toffees did with Coleman are required.

And although it is early days, Everton might have discovered one of their best bargains since signing the Irish defender 12 years ago.

Just £1.7 million was paid to purchase Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen. By today's standard, where £100 million for a player is becoming the norm, that's a modest figure.

Perhaps what makes it even bigger bargain is that Gray is a Premier League winner with Leicester in 2016.

In addition, he was highly rated throughout his days in the England youth set-ups, scoring eight goals in 26 games for the under-21s.

The winger has always had mercurial talent. On his day, he can terrorise any defence with his lightning pace.

But, like plenty of wide men, he's struggled to find cast-iron consistency.

Everton wouldn't have managed to sign Gray at such a reduced price if he was already performing at his pinnacle week in, week out.

That's the challenge Benitez would have set the 25-year-old after he arrived on Merseyside.

Given how he's opened his Blues career, there must be early optimism it can be achieved.

A bright opening

Following an eye-catching debut in the 3-1 victory over Southampton last weekend, Gray followed it up with a man-of-the-match performance in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Leeds United.

While Marcelo Bielsa's side monopolised possession the first half, Gray was a constant threat during Everton salvos.

It was in the second period when he truly flexed his muscle, displaying his prodigious prowess.

In the 50th minute, Gray superbly adjusted his feet when collecting Abdoulaye Doucoure's pass and rifled a left-footed effort into the far corner.

Leeds keeper Illan Meslier was given no chance and Gray knew he’d be wheeling off in delight to toast his maiden Everton goal as soon as the shot left his boot.

Gray should have had an assist to his name just three minutes later, too. He fizzed in a teasing low cross for Dominic Calvert-Lewin - who'd opening the scoring from the penalty spot before the interval - but he was denied from close range by Meslier.

Certainly, Gray's made a sparkling start - but now he's tasked with making that sort of impact every week.

He'll benefit from sharing a dressing room with someone like Andros Townsend, who also joined Everton this summer on a free transfer from Crystal Palace.

While Townsend may not ever had the scintillating raw talent of Gray, he's always been a consistent performer in the top flight.

If Gray can find a blend of both, he could finally fulfil the predictions many have about him in the past.

Should that happen, it'll only be to Everton's benefit.