According to Téléfoot Chaine (h/t GFFN), Everton have ‘agreed personal terms’ with Abdoulaye Doucoure, but Watford have ‘rejected an offer’ from us. We’re closing in on a four-year deal for the 27-year-old, but the Evening Standard say Watford aren’t willing to let him go for less than £25m.
What would Doucoure bring to our midfield?
A box-to-box threat. The Frenchman is combative, industrious, creative and has an eye for goal. He’s adept at turning over possession, works hard to get up and down the pitch, has good vision on the ball and isn’t afraid to get in positions to score or make assists. He’s made 141 appearances in all competitions since joining Watford from Stade Rennais in 2016.
As per WhoScored, Doucoure made 37 Premier League appearances last season, scoring four goals, making two assists, created 38 chances, completed 78.4% of his 1678 passes, won 55/112 aerial duels, whipped in 29 crosses, had 40/67 successful dribbles, took 60 shots with 20% hitting the target, blocked 47 passes/crosses/shots, made 31 clearances, won 15 free-kicks and averaged a tackle (64) or interception (31) every 33 minutes.
Would he realistically join us?
We tried to sign Doucoure for £32m last summer and had our bid rejected by Watford, but a deal looks on the cards this time as the Daily Mail say Doucoure wants out of Watford. The Hornets suffered relegation to the Championship last season, so the French midfielder would surely jump at the chance to return to the Premier League. He’s agreed personal terms right now, so that’s a good sign.
We’re not short of options in the engine room with Andre Gomes, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fabian Delph, Tom Davies, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Beni Baningime and Muhamed Besic at our disposal, but Sigurdsson may be sold, Delph has an uncertain future after a disappointing debut season, Davies has struggled for consistency, Gbamin is out until 2021 with an achilles injury, Baningime isn’t at the level required to play in the first-team and Besic may be surplus to requirements too, so Doucoure would be in the starting eleven if he joined. He’d be an upgrade on many of our players.
In other news, Everton have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Gabriel Magalhaes