Everton have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Abdoulaye Doucoure, according to French news outlet RMC Sport. The Watford midfielder has attracted a lot of interest from a series of top clubs but the Hornets have remained stubborn of keeping hold of their prized asset.
The Toffees have been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old midfielder but have seen their bid worth €25 million along with €5m addons rejected by Watford which has led many to believe that they might soon surrender the pursuit of the highly rated midfielder.
Doucoure, 25, spent the last couple of seasons at the Vicarage Road, where he had enjoyed a decent spell. Despite a slow start to his career in the Premier League, the Frenchman was one of Watford’s standout players in the league last season, scoring seven goals in 37 matches.
He was a mainstay under former Hornets manager Marco Silva and RMC Sport firmly believe that the Portuguese mastermind, who is currently coaching Everton, is keen to reunite with the 25-year-old next season. And with his incredible performances in the league last term, it seemed as if the Toffees are even willing to break the bank to land him this summer.
The Merseyside giants have failed to make an impression in the league following a spending spree last summer with a host of their new additions failing to live up to the billing. Midfield, in particular, has been identified as a weakness for Everton and thus, Silva is keen on strengthening his midfield department this summer.
With the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen struggling to sort their feet out at the club, the addition of Abdoulaye Doucoure could be a huge boost for the Toffees. As mentioned earlier, the 25-year-old has been a success in the Premier League last season and is more than capable of making a difference under Marco Silva.
His powerful presence coupled with his excellent tenacity is sure to add an extra dimension to Everton’s midfield but what makes him such a sought-after player in the market, is his knack for scoring goals.
However, it is understood that Doucoure himself is keen to establish himself as a consistent performer in the English top flight. Thus, he is open to staying put at Watford for the short term, meaning Everton will definitely have to table a much-improved bid if they are to secure the services of this highly rated Frenchman this summer.
