Why Abdoulaye Doucoure would be a brilliant signing for Everton
According to RMC Sport, Watford have rejected a £32m bid from Everton for Abdoulaye Doucoure. (h/t Liverpool Echo)
Abdoulaye Doucoure, 26, impressed for Watford last season with five goals and six assists in the Premier League, as the Hornets finished 12th in the table.
After initially struggling to lock down a starting place over his first year in the Premier League, the Frenchman in the last couple of seasons has continued to show that he’s one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the top-flight.
Thus, interest in the 26-year-old midfielder comes as no surprise. Watford have rejected Everton’s opening bid and want to keep hold of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who signed a new five-year contract until 2023 last summer.
However, the Toffees shouldn’t lose hope and make a substantial second bid in an attempt to sign the French midfielder.
Everton boss Marco Silva has quickly moved to sign Jean-Philippe Gbamin from Mainz as a replacement for the departed Idrissa Gueye. He has signed Andre Gomes permanently from Barcelona after impressing on loan last season, while Fabian Delph has also joined from Manchester City.
However, if the Royal Blues are to climb the table and challenge for a top-six finish in the upcoming campaign, they need to have more depth in the squad.
In that regard, Doucoure would simply be perfect for the Toffees. Silva knows all about Doucoure having managed him at Watford and thus, is keen to bring him at Goodison Park ahead of this week’s transfer deadline.
The French midfielder is an aggressive, hard-working and tough-tackling midfielder and would make Everton even more dynamic with his box-to-box playing style. His proficiency in cutting out attacks and controlling the game in the midfield, whilst chipping in with crucial goals and assists would make him an asset for Silva’s side.
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With Silva seemingly set to use Gbamin in central defence, Doucoure could form an excellent partnership with Gomes in the midfield.
Gomes is a cultured midfielder, blessed with excellent technique, guile and creativity. Doucoure, meanwhile, excels at breaking the opposition’s play, and the two appear to be ideally suited to play alongside one another.
Verdict
Still only 26, Doucoure has his best years ahead of him and his arrival would certainly solve a major issue in a key area of the pitch for Silva. Hence, Everton must increase their offer significantly to stand any chance of getting the Frenchman this summer.