Abdoulaye Doucoure has been told to stay at ‘very big team’ Watford rather than force a move to either Liverpool or Manchester United this summer.
Doucoure, the French midfielder, has been the Hornets’ standout performer this season; his energetic showings in the middle of the park have caught the eye, and he’s capped his campaign by scoring more goals than anyone else in Watford’s squad.
Liverpool and Manchester United have been reported as showing an interest in Doucoure, 25, and the midfielder recently admitted ‘it would be a dream’ to play for the Anfield club.
Watford are expected to field bids for Doucoure when the transfer window opens, but Javi Gracia, manager of the Vicarage Road club, has called on the former Rennes star to forget about a move and help guide the Hornets to Europe.
“Doucoure is playing for a very big team, and playing in the Premier League,” Gracia was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. “In the future I would like him to play with Watford in Europe.
“Maybe in the future he can play with other big clubs who play in the Champions League.
“But what I feel at this moment is that all of our players are proud to belong at this club. They are concentrated on the next match and trying to put the team as high in the table as possible.
“I don’t know his situation at the moment. He feels happy playing for Watford, and I wish he will play with us for a long time, but the player decides what is best for his future.
“Doucoure knows he is important, not for me, but for the club and his team-mates. I am only focused on the next seven games and I am sure Doucoure will help us with his best attitude until the end of the season.
“Then we will see what happens, but I would like for him to stay with us for a long time.”