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Report: West Ham plotting bold move to rival Everton for Abdoulaye Doucoure

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford reacts during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on September 15, 201...
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West Ham United reportedly want Watford ace Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford reacts during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on September 15, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini is interested in luring Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure to East London.

The Hammers have been showing promise under Pellegrini, but were beaten 4-2 by League One side AFC Wimbledon in an embarrassing FA Cup defeat on Saturday night.

That defeat underlined that West Ham are still a work in progress, and major additions will still be needed to Pellegrini’s squad to really take the club forward in the coming months.

Now, the Daily Mail claim that Pellegrini wants to sign Watford ace Doucoure, feeling that he needs to add another midfielder to his ranks, whilst also holding an interest in Chelsea’s Danny Drinkwater.

Doucoure is valued in the region of £40million or more, and it’s noted that West Ham would be challenging Everton and even Paris Saint-Germain if they made a move.

The Frenchman, 26, made a name for himself last season and has continued to be a driving force in Watford’s midfield this term, grabbing three goals and five assists this term.

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Huddersfield Town at Vicarage Road on October 27, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom.

Doucoure’s box-to-box nature could work perfectly alongside Declan Rice in the West Ham midfield, giving fans something of a dream partnership in the middle of the park.

Yet at more than £40million, it seems unlikely that West Ham would be able to do a deal before Thursday’s transfer deadline, and some may feel that Doucoure will have bigger and better offers on the table than West Ham, with the same going for Everton given that neither look likely to make it into Europe for next season.

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford in action during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Vicarage Road on August 11, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom.