Watford have rejected a €20m plus bonuses offer from Everton for midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré.
That’s according to Foot Mercato, who state that claiming there is an agreement in place at this point is ‘premature’.
Reports earlier this week claimed the Blues had agreed on a deal with Doucouré and had opened negotiations with Watford over a move this summer.
Foot Mercato pick that story up today and explain that Watford are looking to ‘replenish the funds’ following relegation to the Championship, and Doucouré is one they are looking to sell as he does not want to stay at Vicarage Road.
The biggest obstacle at the moment is Watford. They want at least €30m for the midfielder, hence why they rejected an offer that the website states is more than €20m plus bonuses.
As of now, no other club has shown an interest in him or matched Everton’s offer, which is a problem for the Hornets.
They are ‘struggling to hold their ground’ because of a lack of funds, the suggestion being that they may lower their demands to force a sale.
Everton ‘won’t give up so easily’ but they are also willing to hold off on making a new offer, presumably to ramp up the pressure on Watford and tempt them into lowering their demands.
Thus, it seems we will have to wait a little longer before there is an outcome in the saga, which looks likely to be on the agenda for a third straight year.
