Claims that Watford have rejected a bid in excess of £20 million from Everton for Abdoulaye Doucoure are wide of the mark, the Watford Observer understands.

Reports emerging from France yesterday claimed that former Hornets boss Marco Silva’s club had seen an offer of €25 million plus €5m in add-ons for the 25-year-old turned down.

We have been told that is not the case and it was a 'kite flying' move by an agent.

The French midfielder enjoyed an impressive campaign, finishing as top scorer and winning the Player and Player’s Player of the Season awards. But he fuelled suggestions of leaving Vicarage Road this summer by talking about Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool as potential destinations during the last campaign, while Manchester United were also linked with a move.

The prospect of Watford doing business with the Goodison Park club appears remote in any event, with a settlement still to be reached over their alleged tapping up of former head coach Silva, which led to an official complaint being lodged with the Premier League.