Birger Verstraete has reportedly ignored interest from France and the Middle East to seal a move to the Premier League with Watford.
Watford are set to make Gent midfielder Birger Verstraete their first signing of the summer transfer window, according to HLN.
A 25-year-old central midfielder who made his Belgium debut against Scotland last September, Verstraete shone for Gent last season as they finished fifth in the Jupiler League table.
But his time with The Buffalos appears to be coming to an end. HLN claims that Verstraete is on his way to Watford having held talks with the Premier League outfit, who finished in the top half in 2018/19 while reaching the FA Cup final.
According to Het Nieuwsblad, Verstraete has also turned down offers from France and has no interest in moving to the Middle East. Gent are desperately trying to extend a contract that expires in 2020 but to no avail with Watford moving heaven and earth to lure him to Vicarage Road.
The report does not make clear how much Watford will have to pay but Transfermarkt suggests that he is worth a fee of around £3.5 million.
It will be interesting to see what sort of role Verstraete will have at Watford and whether he has been lined up to replace Abdoulaye Doucoure.
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