Club waiting for potential ‘FIFA sanction’ involving Watford before trying to sign €10m player

Sevilla are awaiting the outcome of Watford’s complaint to FIFA over midfielder Pape Gueye before signing him permanently from Marseille.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who say the Spanish side are keen on signing Gueye permanently but have to wait until FIFA decide on the open case.

For those that don’t know, Gueye signed a pre-contract agreement with Watford in 2020 but reneged on that deal, insisting there were irregularities in the contract and joining Marseille instead.

The Hornets were not happy about that and took the issue to FIFA, who ruled in their favour and issued a four month ban to the player, a transfer ban for two windows to Marseille and a €2.5m fine.

The Ligue 1 side took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and that has been delayed until this month, when a decision is expected to be signed.

In the meantime Gueye has left France for Sevilla, joining on loan until the end of the season and impressing so far.

The loan deal doesn’t include a purchase option, according to Mundo, but there are ‘conversations and agreements’ between the two clubs to make the move a permanent one.

Sevilla want that to happen as Gueye ‘has convinced’ since his arrival and they would be happy to spend the €10m to keep him.

They, though, are ‘awaiting the FIFA sanction’ that ‘weighs on the player’ after the dispute with Watford.

That’s because if CAS rule against him and Marseille the player will be banned for four months, which would naturally be a major problem for Sevilla next season.