Four of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ clubs are interested in signing Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure in the summer.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are all said to be tracking the 25-year-old Frenchman, who has been one of the Hornets’ top performers this season.
But, according to the Daily Mirror, it is United who appear to be leading the race.
The Red Devils sent scouts to watch the midfielders in action for Watford in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over West Brom in the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho is apparently eyeing Doucoure as a replacement for midfield duo Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini.
Carrick, 36, is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season and join the club’s coaching staff, while Fellaini is expected to leave Old Trafford on a free when his contract expires in the summer.
Doucoure has impressed with his technical ability and athleticism in the centre of the park for Watford, as well as an eye for the goal – he is the club’s top scorer this season with seven goals.
He still has two more years on his contract at Watford but, when asked about his future in a recent interview, he appeared to open the door for a potential move, staying: “We’ll see what the state of play is in the summer and then we can ask questions.”