With Idrissa Gana Gueye moving to Paris Saint Germain this summer, Everton moved quickly to sign up a replacement in Jean-Philippe Gbamin this week.
However, it seems that may not be the end, as L’Equipe are reporting that they actually want Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure to replace the Senegal midfielder this summer.
The newspaper reports the Blues have formulated a €30m offer for the Frenchman and that Doucoure would not be opposed to making the switch to Goodison Park.
He’s ‘tempted’ by a new challenge and Everton ‘would not displease him’.
Watford are not interested in selling at that price, though. They are willing to start the negotiations at €40m and will use the fast approaching transfer deadline, plus interest in Doucoure from Europe, to push up his price.
They have no issue keeping Doucoure and rejecting any approaches from Everton outright but also accept now may be an excellent time to get a high price for the midfielder.
He’s one of the Hornets more saleable assets, and they could use the €30m Everton are currently willing to offer to fund a move for Ismaïla Sarr, who they’ve been trying to get from Rennes all summer.
L’Equipe believe the move should ‘accelerate’ in the coming days, but it’s hard to see it happening. Everton have a plethora of midfielders at their disposal, having signed Gbamin, Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph this summer.
Furthermore, their relationship with Watford is not good, with the Hornets still bitter over Everton’s courtship and later hiring of Marco Silva.
Perhaps if Everton wish to use Gbamin as a centre back, and Watford’s need for cash is significant then both sides would be pushed to get a deal done but given the current situation, and their relationship, it seems unlikely despite L’Equipe’s belief it might happen.
