Last season, the midfielder starred for Watford, scoring seven goals and contributing 10 assists from 47 matches.

His impressive performances have seen several clubs take notice, including West Ham and Southampton.

Last November, Louza expressed his desire to leave Watford in January or this summer. He’s still at Vicarage Road and would be keen to fulfil his wish in this window.

West Ham and Southampton keen

The Championship duo can fulfil the France-born Morocco international’s transfer wish.

Africa Foot report the Hammers and Tonda Eckert’s side have monitored him for a while and are ‘pushing hard’ to secure the 27-year-old’s services.

West Ham United and the Saints are ‘eager to move forward with discussions to reach an agreement for his transfer’.

There could be a battle brewing between the two English clubs to sign the Watford star.

West Ham have edge over Southampton 

According to the report, Imrân Louza’s entourage are favouring the London club over Southampton.

West Ham United’s project under Nuno Espírito Santo is appealing to the Watford man and his representatives. This gives the Hammers an advantage over Tonda Eckert’s side.

The outlet states: ‘West Ham intends to capitalise on the preference expressed by Louza’s entourage to gain an early advantage in this transfer saga.’

However, the report makes it clear it’s not the midfielder’s final decision. The two clubs will face fierce competition from other clubs. The Watford player is also on Crystal Palace, Paris FC, Como and Ajax’s radar.

Louza isn’t opposed to leaving Watford this summer and his camp are considering all options before deciding his next destination.

Africa Foot end their report by stating: ‘While his entourage seems to favour a move to West Ham, other European offers will also be considered before a final decision is made. The upcoming discussions could therefore be crucial for the future of the Moroccan.’

Key transfer points 

• West Ham and Southampton pushing hard to sign midfielder 
• Louza likely to leave Watford, months after expressing transfer desire
• Entourage favours Hammers over Saints
• Other clubs also keen, player yet to make final decision

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The Australia international’s move to Sporting was finally agreed last week following lengthy negotiations. Now, there appears to be little standing between him and becoming their latest signing.

Tuesday’s print edition of O Jogo reports Irankunda is expected to arrive in Lisbon today.

He will undergo the usual medical examinations before signing a five-year contract with Sporting and being officially presented by the Portuguese club.

Goodbyes already said at Watford

Nestory Irankunda appears to have already brought his time at Watford to an end.

O Jogo reports the 20-year-old has said goodbye to his teammates, club officials and supporters. He was at Watford’s League Cup tie against Crawley Town. However, he just watched the game from the stands.

The final deal will see Sporting pay €15m (£13m) up front. Another €3m (£2.6m) could potentially head Watford’s way through bonuses.

All the formalities are expected to be completed in Lisbon. Irankunda should join Sporting training before the end of this week.

Sporting waiting to get him involved

There is still some doubt over whether Nestory Irankunda will be ready to feature against Vitória de Guimarães in Sporting’s next league game.

O Jogo believes the following match, at home to Alverca, is a more realistic target for his first involvement.

That is something for Sporting to worry about now. The player has already said his farewells. He is expected to board the plane to Portugal today. This leaves only the medical, signature and announcement before his departure becomes official.

Irankunda leaves Watford after just one season, having registered four goals and four assists in 42 appearances during the 2025/26 campaign. He then took his reputation to another level with an explosive World Cup for Australia, which helped attract plenty of attention during the summer window.

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The Championship club spent weeks locked in negotiations with the Portuguese club over the Australia international. However, the breakthrough has now arrived.

According to today’s printed editions of O Jogo, A Bola and Jornal de Notícias, the two clubs have reached a full agreement worth around €15m (£13m). In addition, there will be up to €3m (£2.6m) in performance-related bonuses.

The deal is now waiting only for the exchange of documents. After that, Irankunda will travel to Lisbon for his medical and the formal completion of the transfer.

Bayern issue finally resolved

The final breakthrough came away from Sporting.

When Watford signed Irankunda from Bayern Munich, the German club retained the right to receive 40% of a future transfer fee.

That clause had become the biggest obstacle to the move. Watford wanted to improve their own return before accepting Sporting’s offer.

According to the Portuguese reports, the Hornets have now reached an agreement with Bayern to reduce that percentage. Therefore, this removes the final obstacle that had delayed the transfer for weeks.

With that issue settled, the deal has finally been given the green light.

Irankunda now waiting to travel

The 20-year-old, who has been pushing for the move throughout the negotiations, is now simply waiting for the paperwork to be completed. Then he will fly to Portugal.

He is expected to undergo a medical over the coming days. After that, he will sign the five-year contract that has been agreed for some time.

Watford will also retain a percentage of any future sale, giving the Championship club another chance to profit if Irankunda continues the development they believe is possible.

After weeks of disagreements over valuations, sell-on clauses and Bayern’s percentage, the final pieces have now fallen into place. Barring any last-minute paperwork issues, Watford are set to complete Irankunda’s sale and move on to reinvesting the transfer fee in their own squad.

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For most of the summer, the two clubs have been locked in a battle over the transfer fee. That now looks to have changed.

According to both A Bola and Record, Sporting and Watford have now reached common ground on the financial framework of the deal. This comes after both sides made concessions during negotiations.

Sporting stuck to their position throughout the saga, refusing to go beyond €15m (£13m) in guaranteed money. However, the overall package is now expected to rise close to €20m (£17.3m) through performance-related bonuses. This is bringing the two clubs much closer to an agreement.

Bayern now hold the key

The biggest obstacle is no longer between Sporting and Watford.

Instead, both Portuguese newspapers report that Watford are still trying to renegotiate the agreement they signed with Bayern Munich. This agreement was made when Irankunda arrived last summer.

The Bundesliga club are entitled to 40% of any future transfer fee. Watford are now working to reduce that percentage before signing off on the deal. If successful, this will allow them to keep a much bigger share of the money.

In other words, the final green light now depends more on talks between England and Germany. It depends less on anything Sporting still have to negotiate.

Deal now entering the final stretch

Both A Bola and Record say Irankunda’s side of the deal has been sorted for some time. The Australian is set to sign a five-year contract running until 2031.

If Watford can wrap up their discussions with Bayern, the winger is expected to travel to Lisbon straight away for his medical. After that, he will complete the transfer.

There is also growing confidence in Portugal that the move can finally be wrapped up before the end of the week. According to Record, Watford are keen to complete the sale because they need the transfer income. They need it in order to strengthen their own squad before the window closes.

Watford transfer saga heading towards its conclusion

So after weeks of delays, changing momentum and plenty of frustration on all sides, the saga finally appears to be moving towards a conclusion. The agreement between Sporting and Watford is largely in place.

Now it is up to Watford and Bayern to clear the final obstacle. They must do this before Irankunda can make the move he has wanted throughout the summer.

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Africa Foot report that Louza has attracted interest around Europe this summer, and Crystal Palace are one of those in the mix.

Crystal Palace interest after impressive season

The website explains that Imrân Louza has attracted growing interest in the transfer market this summer.

While several sources recently reported interest from Paris FC, Africa Foot now report that the Parisian club are not the only team interested in the Watford man.

According to their information, Ajax, Crystal Palace and Como are also in the mix. These four teams are closely monitoring the situation of the Moroccan midfielder after a ‘particularly impressive’ season with the Hornets.

He managed seven goals and nine assists in the Championship last season. Those enough earned him attention. But his ‘technical ability, playmaking skill and versatility’ also appeal to the European clubs keeping an eye on him.7

€14m valuation for Watford player

Watford have been rewarded for the faith that they’ve shown in him. And Africa Foot now report that they are in a strong position to negotiate a transfer this summer should Crystal Palace or anyone else move for him.

They have the Moroccan tied down to a deal until 2028 for a start. Transfermarkt currently values him at around €14m. Louza, for his part, is open to a move according to Africa Foot’s information.

What’s happening now?

Louza and Watford are now waiting for the interested parties to make their move.

As it stands, Crystal Palace, Paris FC, Ajax and Como are only keeping an eye on the 27-year-old. There is no mention of a bid to Watford or talks with the player’s agent.

This, though, feels very much like an agent potentially trying to drum up interest for a player who may be ready to move on from Vicarage Road.

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The Portuguese champions have made the Australia international one of their top targets this summer. However, A Bola reports patience is beginning to wear thin in Lisbon. The gap between the two clubs remains as wide as ever.

Watford are still demanding €20m (£17.3m) guaranteed for the 20-year-old. And Sporting refuse to go beyond a package worth around €15m (£13m). With neither side prepared to budge, the Championship club now risk seeing their main suitor move on.

Sporting start looking elsewhere

According to the Portuguese newspaper, Sporting have now activated a Plan B. They have stepped up work on alternative targets for the left side of their attack.

The deal is still alive, but the Portuguese champions no longer want their summer plans to depend on a single transfer. Irankunda remains the priority, but Sporting are now actively exploring other options in case Watford continue to stand firm.

It’s a noticeable change after spending the past few weeks doing everything possible to get the Australian to Lisbon.

Deal reaches crunch time

A Bola says the transfer has now reached a decisive stage. Sporting want the situation resolved over the next few days and have no intention of letting the saga drag into the opening weeks of the new season.

The message from Lisbon is quite simple. They are not prepared to wait forever if Watford refuse to soften their stance. From Irankunda’s side, though, nothing has changed.

The winger has already given Sporting the green light. He is still hoping the clubs can reach an agreement. This follows him making it clear to Scott Duxbury that he wants a new challenge this season.

Another sign that the move is not close came at the weekend. Irankunda featured for Watford in their pre-season friendly against Brentford. His involvement suggested the Hornets are still planning with him in the squad. Thus, they are not expecting him to leave any time soon.

Pressure now on Watford

Sporting’s position has also been helped by what they have seen during pre-season.

A Bola reports academy product Flávio Gonçalves has impressed the coaching staff. Meanwhile, Jesse Derry has also made a strong early impression since arriving from Chelsea.

As a result, Sporting do not feel under immediate pressure to match Watford’s asking price before the new campaign gets underway.

For weeks, Watford have held firm in the hope of squeezing a bigger fee out of the deal. The danger now is that, by refusing to compromise, they could end up losing the club that has shown the strongest commitment to signing Irankunda, while the player continues to wait for the move he has made clear he wants.

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The Australia international has made no secret of his desire to join the Portuguese side. However, Record reports he has now held a meeting with Watford CEO Scott Duxbury to discuss the situation personally.

According to the newspaper, Irankunda wanted an update on where negotiations stood. He then asked Duxbury to help speed up the process. Irankunda wanted to complete the move.

The 20-year-old believes the switch represents the ideal next step in his career, giving him the chance to play Champions League football after an impressive campaign with Watford and his performances for Australia at the Club World Cup.

Record adds there was no confrontation during the meeting. Instead, the talks were described as cordial. Watford appreciated what Irankunda contributed during his first season at Vicarage Road.

Also, they accepted he has earned the opportunity to take the next step. The Championship club are prepared to sell. However, this is only once they are satisfied with the financial package.

Bayern clause still creating complications

Record also provides more detail on another issue affecting the negotiations. Watford only own 60% of Irankunda’s economic rights. This is after agreeing to give Bayern Munich 40% of any future transfer fee. They agreed to this when they signed the winger last summer.

With Sporting’s current proposal standing at €15m (£13m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses, the Hornets believe their share of the transfer would be lower than they had hoped.

The report says they are therefore trying to renegotiate that agreement with Bayern. They want to do this before giving the green light to a sale.

That adds another layer to talks which are already proving difficult, with Watford effectively trying to resolve two negotiations before completing the deal.

Sporting still determined to get deal done

While discussions with Watford have continued, Record says Sporting have spent the past few days prioritising the expected departures of Ousmane Diomande and Pedro Gonçalves.

Once those transfers are finalised, the Portuguese side intend to turn their full attention back to Irankunda. They still see him as their preferred replacement on the left side of the attack.

The report also claims Sporting could be willing to show some flexibility because of how highly they rate the Australian. However, there is no indication they are prepared to meet Watford’s full demands.

The Lisbon club’s latest proposal remains €15m (£13m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in performance-related bonuses, while Watford continue to push for a higher fixed fee and improved add-ons.

For now, Irankunda has done everything he can from his side. The winger has spoken directly to Watford’s hierarchy. He has made his preferred destination crystal clear and already rejected alternatives, including Hull City.

He is now waiting for the two clubs to bridge the remaining gap and finally complete the move he has been pushing for.

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Watford’s attempts to keep hold of Nestory Irankunda are threatening to turn into a transfer stand-off. The winger is now pushing to leave as fresh details emerge over why the Sporting deal has stalled.

The Portuguese champions remain confident of signing the Australia international. However, negotiations have dragged on despite Sporting making what is still the only formal offer on the table. This offer amounts to €15m (£13m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses.

According to Correio da Manhã, Irankunda has made it clear to Watford that he wants the move to happen. He has grown frustrated by the Championship club’s stance.

The newspaper claims the 20-year-old temporarily removed all references to Watford from his Instagram account last week as a show of his dissatisfaction, believing Sporting’s proposal is fair and that the club should not stand in the way of an opportunity to play Champions League football.

Correio da Manhã says the Portuguese club believe Watford’s current stance is partly an attempt to buy time in the hope that more clubs will enter the race and drive up Irankunda’s price.

Bayern also part of the equation

While the disagreement over the transfer fee has been well documented, O Jogo reports there is another layer to the negotiations.

The newspaper claims Watford are also in discussions with Bayern Munich. The German club are entitled to 40% of any future transfer fee received for Irankunda.

According to the report, the Championship side are trying to agree compensation with the German club before completing a sale to Sporting.

That would help explain why the transfer has taken longer than expected. Watford are effectively juggling negotiations on two separate fronts.

Player wants Sporting only

O Jogo also reports Irankunda has already told Watford he is determined to join Sporting. He has ruled out alternative destinations.

The report claims the Australian has turned down interest from Hull City, Lille and Club Brugge. He remains focused on a move to Lisbon. This is because he was impressed by Sporting’s approach and convinced by the prospect of Champions League football.

Sporting are still waiting for Watford’s response and remain optimistic. However, they have made it clear they will not increase their offer.

That leaves the Championship club under growing pressure, with their player openly pushing for the move while negotiations continue both in England and Germany.

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Watford’s Nestory Irankunda is attracting even more attention from the Premier League. Seems like Fulham are now joining Everton and Hull City among the clubs keeping tabs on the Australia international.

Sporting are still leading the race for the 20-year-old after spending the past week negotiating with Watford over a package worth €15m (£13m) plus another €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses.

The Portuguese champions remain confident they can get the deal over the line after already reaching an agreement with Irankunda over personal terms. However, the list of interested clubs continues to grow.

Fulham enter the picture

According to Record, Fulham have now emerged as another Premier League club interested in Irankunda. They join Everton, Hull and Fiorentina in tracking the winger’s situation.

Hull are still the only other side reported to have made an offer, with their previous €10m (£8.7m) bid turned down by Watford. Fulham’s arrival is the latest sign that interest in Irankunda is building. Meanwhile, Sporting try to wrap up the transfer.

That level of attention was always likely after Irankunda’s World Cup. The 20-year-old was one of Australia’s standout performers during the tournament, scoring against Turkey. It is no surprise that more Premier League clubs have begun to monitor his situation this summer.

Sporting still in front

Even with more clubs showing interest, Record says Sporting’s proposal remains the only concrete offer currently on Watford’s table.

The Hornets are trying to squeeze the best possible fee out of the deal before giving the green light. At the same time, Sporting are confident an agreement can still be reached and are keen to avoid letting negotiations drag on for much longer.

Irankunda has already returned to Watford for pre-season after his extended post-World Cup break. However, the expectation is still that he could move before the transfer window closes.

With Fulham becoming the latest Premier League side to enter the race alongside Everton and Hull City, Sporting no longer have the market to themselves. Even so, the Portuguese champions are still seen as the club best placed to complete a deal.

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Everton may have been handed an opportunity to step into the race for Watford’s Nestory Irankunda, with a move to Sporting Club de Portugal stalling.

Record report on the 20-year-old Watford winger today. The newspaper reports that Irankunda has returned to England while his future remains undecided.

Sporting efforts

The Portuguese newspaper reports that Nestory Irankunda is currently Sporting’s target to bolster their attack this summer.

The winger is the subject of ongoing talks between Sporting’s board, led by Frederico Varandas, and Watford. Irankunda already has an agreement in place with the Lions for a five-year deal with a release clause for €80m.

He is now awaiting the next stages. Sporting are trying to accelerate negotiations after putting a initial €15m plus €5m package on the table for Watford. The €5m is based on performance-related add-ons.

But the deal is yet to be finalised. Sporting had wanted it done quickly so they could present the Watford man as a surprise to fans in time for the Cinco Violinos Trophy but that is now looking unlikely. The deal would have to be finalised very quickly for that to happen.

Everton interest

Thera are other interested parties. Everton, Hull and Deportivo are ‘also in the running’ for the winger. So, Everton have an opportunity to step in and overtake the deal should they wish to do so.

The feeling in Portugal at this moment in time is that Sporting’s deal is not progressing as quickly as they may like it to. That’s despite Sport Witness covering reports that negotiations were in the final stages.

For now, the winger has returned to England for pre-season training, watching and waiting to see how matters develop. He’s ready to make the move and has an agreement in place with the Portuguese side, but they are yet to push their negotiations with Watford over the line.

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