Andros Townsend believes Demarai Gray is already proving himself to be one of the "bargains of the summer" like Lionel Messi.
The Blues completed the signing of Gray from Bayer Leverkusen on a three-year deal back in July, and he immediately linked up with his new teammates in the US.
Gray impressed in pre-season and has been instrumental in helping Everton collect seven points from their three opening games of their Premier League season.
Having helped the Blues beat Southampton on the opening day, Gray then scored his first goal for his new club a week later in the 2-2 draw with Leeds United.
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Gray then scored goal number two of the season against Brighton in his side’s 2-0 win at the Amex before the international break.
And Townsend has hit back at the doubters who questioned Everton’s decision to sign the 25-year-old during the summer transfer window, and likened the deal to Paris Saint-Germain landing Messi on a free transfer from Barcelona.
He told talkSPORT : “You know what, I don’t know why, like, when Everton signed him they got a lot of stick. ‘Why have they signed Demarai Gray?’
“But this is a player, I remember Demarai Gray coming through and being the next best thing at Leicester.
“He was sharp, he was direct, and yes he maybe lost his way a little bit, for one reason or another with off the field issues, but he’s still the same Demarai Gray who burst through the scene at Leicester.
“And with a manager like Rafa, who leaves no stone unturned, who wants to improve every aspect of the player it’s a match made in heaven and you’re starting to see that already with the form of Demarai Gray.
“It’s probably one of the bargains of the summer. Listen, Messi has gone to PSG for free so that says a lot about how Demarai Gray has started.”
