According to a recent report by The Daily Mirror, Everton are set to rival Arsenal in pursuit of Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré this summer. The same source has also stated that the Toffees could go back in for the Hornets midfield ace after two failed attempts to sign him last summer.
Doucoure’s Frustrating Season At Vicarage Road
The 27-year-old endured a campaign of mixed emotions as he failed to help the Hertfordshire outfit avoid relegation from the Premier League in the last term. He made 39 appearances for Watford in the previous campaign, scoring four goals and providing two assists across all fronts, which showcases his tenacity to get involved in the attacking third.
The French midfield powerhouse managed to find a little bit of consistency with his all-round performances after averaging 1.7 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.8 clearances, 1.6 shots, 1.0 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game in the Premier League last season. However, he has been a bit untidy with his ball-distribution as evident from his pass success rate of 78.4% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Doucoure has represented France at various youth ranks but is yet to earn his first senior cap for his country. Maybe a return to the Premier League this summer could help him rediscover his old form and secure a few senior caps for his homeland in the coming years.
What Will The French Midfielder Bring To Goodison Park?
Doucoure is a well-rounded midfielder as he can do a bit of everything at the centre of the park. He can use his pace and power to make some driving runs with the ball in the opposition half and can even retain possession well for his side. The Frenchman is also proficient at winning a few 50-50 duels in midfield and can even make some crucial last-gasp clearances at the back.
A midfield powerhouse like Doucoure could be a welcome addition to Carlo Ancelotti’s team ahead of the new season. He will not only add more power and variety to the Toffees midfield department but also improve the overall depth of their squad at Goodison Park.
Furthermore, he will offer some much-needed competition for the likes of Tom Davies, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fabian Delph and Andre Gomes for a regular starting spot in Ancelotti’s first-team next season. Doucoure has also got what it takes to be a success story in the blue half of Merseyside as long as he is willing to give his 100% on the field. With all things considered, the French midfield ace will be a shrewd acquisition for Ancelotti and could help Everton challenge for some silverware in the coming seasons.