DOUCOURE A TOFF TARGET

WATFORD are bracing themselves for a fight to hang on to their stars.

Premier League clubs are circling, with Everton set to return for Abdoulaye Doucoure (above) after the Toffees had two bids – one of around £40million – rejected last summer.

The 27-year French midfielder also has admirers at Arsenal, although the Gunners would need to offload Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, and they are also keen on Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey.

Wolves, meanwhile, have Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr in their sights in case they lose Adama Traore.

Twenty-two year-old Sarr only arrived last summer from French club Rennes but has caught the eye, scoring twice in the shock 3-0 win that made Watford the first club to beat Liverpool in the top flight this season.

Traore (right) has impressed with his displays, among them two goals in Wolves’ shock win at Manchester City.

Winger Gerard Deulofeu is another who could leave Watford with AC Milan having made contact with the Hornets.

The San Siro giants are keen to re-sign the 26-year-old permanently after his six-month loan spell at the San Siro in 2017. Hornets captain Troy Deeney has already admitted he could be going after last weekend’s disappointment. Deeney, 32, has been at Vicarage Road since joining from Walsall in 2010 and still has a year left on his contract. Following last Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal, Deeney (left) said: “I don’t know if this is going to be my last game at Watford or in the Premier League. “If I do ultimately stop playing for Watford as of now, I’ve had a great run.”