Watford has rejected the first offer Everton submitted for Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Watford plunged into deep waters of relegation after a survival fight going until the last day of the Premier League 2019-20 season. With Hornets’ return to the Championship after five seasons in the English Top Flight, a firesale may be about to begin. The likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Gerard Deulofeu, Ismaila Sarr may be on the verge of Watford exit. Everton are interested in Doucoure.
Everton are carefully planning their transfer targets and one name that has synonymously appeared across the board is of Aboulaye Doucoure of Watford. The 27 year old is looking to end his association with the Hornets after spending 4 years at Vicarage Road after the club fell prey to relegation.
The Frenchman possesses enough quality to feature in a Premier League side and doesn’t want to waste his prime years playing in the Championship. Arsenal and Everton were said to be admirers but it is the Toffees who have taken concrete steps to lure Doucoure to Goodison Park.
Gianluca Di Marzio confirmed that Everton are in talks with Watford over a potential transfer deal for Abdoulaye Doucoure. Since Di Marzio’s revelation, reports have suggested that the Royal Blues are in advanced talks with the Frenchman. Get Football News France confirms that Everton have agreed personal terms and wages with Doucoure and are set to offer him a four year deal.
The report further added that the Royal Blues have submitted the first bid for Abdoulaye Doucoure which has been instantly rejected by Watford. As of now, it is unclear what the bidding amount was but Hornets have shown no intention in accepting the offer.
This will be a minute blow for Marcel Brands and Carlo Ancelotti but the Everton hierarchy is determined to land the Frenchman and will soon submit another improved offer. As per Transfermarkt, Abdoulaye Doucoure is rated at £18 million and a bid in that region should be enough to lure Watford into making the transfer.
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The Hornets’ relegation have left them with little room to play hardball. Doucoure has also conveyed his intention to leave Vicarage Road and play elsewhere. To make matters worse for the Championship club, the 27 year old is the club’s highest paid player pocketing £70,000 as weekly wages. Their relegation will force them to trim their wage bill and also sell players to avoid going into significant debts.
Ancelotti has made Abdoulaye Doucoure his priority and a deal is likely to be done this transfer window. After agreeing to personal terms, the Frenchman is most likely to move to Goodison unless another team storms in and hijack the deal.