West Ham United are reportedly keen on Abdoulaye Doucoure.
West Ham United may be busy in the final days of the transfer window, but one new target may be more likely come the end of the season.
The Hammers should be looking at midfield reinforcements given that Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere are both out injured, leaving Manuel Pellegrini with depth issues in midfield.
Some midfielders have been linked with pre-deadline moves, but the Daily Mail report that Pellegrini wants to lure Watford star Abdoulaye Doucoure to the London Stadium, in a move that would surely only take place in the summer.
The Frenchman, 26, has starred for Watford over the last 18 months, notching seven goals and three assists last season as well as three goals and five assists this term.
Paris Saint-Germain and Everton are also credited with an interest in Doucoure, meaning a West Ham move seems unlikely, but a £40million-plus deal would be a dream for the Hammers.
Doucoure is the prefect box-to-box midfielder, showing the ability to get up and down the pitch with great range, popping up with goals whilst also offering physicality and protection in front of the back four.
In terms of a midfield partnership, pairing Doucoure with Declan Rice would be just perfect for West Ham. Sticking Doucoure’s box-to-box ability next to a superb, smart defensive midfielder in Rice would give Pellegrini the perfect balance, much like when Pellegrini had Fernando or Fernandinho alongside Yaya Toure in Manchester City’s midfield.
Rice and Doucoure would be virtually the best imitation of that partnership that West Ham could hope for, and whilst a £40million-plus deal remains a pipedream, it’s certainly worth pursuing in order to try and pair the duo together behind the more creative Samir Nasri, Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini.
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