Transfer Centre

Javi Gracia calls on Abdoulaye Doucoure to remain at Watford

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 30 March 2018

Gracia calls on Doucoure to remain at Watford

Watford head coach Javi Gracia says that midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure could play for the Hornets in Europe if he turns down offers from bigger Premier League clubs.

Watford head coach Javi Gracia has called on Abdoulaye Doucoure to try to help the Hornets into Europe next season.

During the current campaign, Doucoure has contributed seven goals and two assists from 30 appearances in the Premier League, and it has allegedly resulted in interest from a number of high-profile English clubs.

However, Gracia has claimed that the 25-year-old is capable of taking the club into the Europa League, providing that he is prepared to remain at Vicarage Road.

The 47-year-old is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: "Doucoure is playing for a very big team, and playing in the Premier League, and 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."

Earlier this week, it was claimed that Watford would likely look to cash in on Doucoure this summer.