The Hornets are close to sealing a deal with Malaga for winger Nordin Amrabat, the Watford Observer understands.

Watford have been hoping to sign a wide player this month and are closing in on a move for the 28-year-old.

And Amrabat has told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that he is keen to make a move to England.

“The Premier League is a wonderful competition and I'm certainly open to it,” he said. “It's nice to watch English football. I know the Premier League well.”

Malaga are believed to have rejected an initial offer from Watford but are powerless to stop Amrabat leaving if the Hornets match his release clause, believed to be around £6.7 million.

Malaga president Abdullah N Al Thani has posted a message on social media website Twitter saying he doesn’t want to sell Amrabat but adding the Dutch-born player has asked to leave the Spanish club.

 

Amrabat joined Los Boquerones permanently in the summer after impressing on a season loan long deal from Galatasaray during the 2014/2015 campaign.

He began his career in Holland playing for Omniworld, VVV-Venlo and PSV Eindhoven. 

After three years with PSV he joined Turkish side Kayserispor but stayed just one season before making a switch to Galatasaray in the summer of 2012. 

Amrabat has been capped 26 times for Morocco, who he opted to represent instead of the Netherlands.

The deal to bring Amrabat to Vicarage Road may not be the only time the two clubs do business this month as the Hornets maintain an interest in Malaga's first-choice goalkeeper, Carlos Kameni.