Report: Abdoulaye Doucoure puts Tottenham and Arsenal on alert as contract talks stall

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Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have both been linked with a move for Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.

According to a report from The Sun (print edition; 11th February 2018; page 63), Tottenham and Arsenal have seemingly been put on alert with Watford’s attempts to get Abdoulaye Doucoure tied down to a new contract suffering a setback.

Doucoure has enjoyed an excellent season for the Hornets. The 25-year-old currently tops the club’s scoring charts in the Premier League, with seven strikes coming in the top flight, while he has also provided two assists for Javi Gracia’s men.

Unsurprisingly, Watford are now keen to agree a contract extension with the midfielder. However, talks have now stalled, according to The Sun (print edition; 11th February 2018; page 63), as he continues to attract attention from Spurs and the Gunners.

It is not clear whether the North London interest has played any part in the talks stalling, but it would appear that the door may have been left slightly open for either Mauricio Pochettino or Arsene Wenger to sanction a summer pursuit.

Wenger needs Doucoure’s signature more than Pochettino does

With Arsenal crying out for a midfield enforcer, it is surely fair to assume that they will be more determined than Spurs to bag his signature at the end of the season, especially after Mousa Dembele’s brilliant display in the North London derby.

Dembele has been underwhelming at times this season, and adding another powerful midfielder will surely be on Mauricio Pochettino’s shopping list in the near future, but perhaps the Belgian’s performance would have made the search less urgent.

But with Doucoure seemingly putting any interested side on alert by holding fire on signing a new deal, perhaps it would be wise for Pochettino to act during the next window while the opportunity is potentially there.