Prince Rupert's Tower
Fansided

Monaco look to hijack Everton Doucoure deal

By Matt Townsend

Newcastle United's English defender Danny Rose (L) vies with Watford's French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Newcastle at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on July 11, 2020. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United's English defender Danny Rose (L) vies with Watford's French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Newcastle at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on July 11, 2020. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Rumours today indicate that French club Monaco are trying to hijack an Everton move for Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.

We continue to hear stories that very soon, possibly in the next 24 hours or so, Everton will have finally wrapped up deals for the South American players James Rodriguez and Allan.

The other midfield target the Toffees are supposedly moving for is the Hornets French midfielder Doucoure. Everton have had one or possibly two bids for him already turned down by Watford.

Now according to these stories, there is another suitor eyeing a move for Doucoure; Ligue 1 club Monaco. The French side are hoping to persuade Doucoure to return to his country now that the Hornets have been relegated to the Championship.

This scenario of course sounds like the classic case of the player’s agent trying to bolster his negotiating power and the media as usual looking for stories.

It does though seem that the Blues and Watford are still quite a long way apart in terms of their valuation of the 27-year-old player.

Everton are not looking to pay more than about a £20 million maximum for Doucoure, especially given it looks like they are paying more than £20 million or more each for Rodriguez and Allan, while the Hornets want at least £25-30 million.

On balance, it’s likely Watford will relent a bit and a compromise will be found. However, if the Toffees can’t secure a deal soon and we are getting towards the end of the window, the club might have to look elsewhere for this type of individual.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

I do think the Blues need a player like Doucoure, even if it’s not him. Allan will provide the defensive spadework and plenty of positive, accurate passing but he’s not an attacking midfielder and won’t score many goals.

Rodriguez is being brought in to provide the creativity and flair currently lacking and although he will get forward plenty, he’s also not an out-and-out goal threat. His role is to provide the ammunition for the forwards to take advantage of.

So the team needs a midfielder who can provide additional box-to-box energy, pace and a direct, attacking, goal-scoring threat.

I think pace form midfield is particularly important because even with Rodriguez and Allan, Everton will still lack enough pace and penetration from the middle of the park.

Next. Everton Allan deal held up on player demands. dark

This will be vital to enabling the Blues to provide more effective support for their strikers, something that is going to strengthen the team’s attacking potency considerably.

Home/Transfer Rumors