Everton news: Brown reacts to £25m price tag of target Doucouré

Michael Brown believes Everton would be getting a bargain if they’re able to complete the £25m purchase of Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Spurs midfielder expects Watford to try to keep hold of Doucouré after offering him a blockbuster contract.

Reports suggest that Everton’s opening offer for the 27-year-old was rejected but a second one is expected and the Hornets are holding out for £25m.

The Toffees are willing to offer the Frenchman a £120,000-a-week deal which would make him one of their highest earners, as revealed by Football Insider.

Asked by Football Insider whether Doucouré would represent an upgrade for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Brown said: “I like him.

“I think he’s a great player and I think he’ll be a great addition.

“When you go down, everybody tries to pick up your players and take them.

“You’ve got to say as a club going down into the Championship, ‘who can we keep hold of?How can we grow?’

“You say to them ‘give us a period of time to try and make sure that we’re coming back’ and that’s what they’ll all be doing to the players.

“£25m for a player who can control games is not a lot of money.”

Doucouré missed just one game for Watford last season through suspension but his efforts were not enough to prevent the Hornets’ relegation.

In four seasons in the Premier League the midfielder has played 129 games, netting 17 goals and registering 12 assists.

He won Watford’s player of the year award for the 2017/18 season when he ended the season as the club’s top goalscorer with seven.

In other Everton news, the club have been tipped to sell an England international after a major bid has been tabled.