Midfielder Ismael Kone is poised to complete a transfer to French side Marseille.

Watford have reached an agreement with the Ligue 1 side that will be worth up to £15million, and expect it to go through once the player has agreed terms.

Kone is currently playing for Canada in the Copa America, but it’s believed negotiations could well be concluded before the end of the tournament.

The player was also linked with the likes of Roma and West Ham, and the Watford Observer understands Kone made it quite clear he wanted a move away from Vicarage Road this summer.

As with Joao Pedro last summer, the Hornets have acted swiftly in light of that and the deal with Marseille is thought to be the best on offer in terms of valuation and up-front payment.

It means Watford have realised a profit of around £10m for Kone, who cost in the region of £4m when he signed from Montreal in December 2022.

Kone scored four times in 63 appearances, most notably a fine curling effort in the 3-3 draw at Plymouth on New Year’s Day.

Whether Kone will meet up with Sarr when he arrives at Marseille could be open to some doubt though, as Spanish side Villareal are reported to be willing to pay around €15m for the Senegal international.

The sale of the Canadian midfielder will bolster the club’s finances which, while requiring player trading to give them a healthier look, are not in the same condition they were 12 months ago when Pedro went to Brighton for £30m.

As the Watford Observer reported recently, the Hornets do not intend to part with Colombian international Yaser Asprilla, who is also out in the United States at the Copa America.

While it’s doubtful Kone will be the only player to be sold this summer, the Hornets are more likely to listen to offers for others in the squad than Asprilla, who it is understood is also happy to stay at Vicarage Road and gain more first-team experience.

Imran Louza signed a new contract that runs until 2028 but the Morocco international was loaned out for the second half of last season to L’Orient in France.

If he’s not part of Tom Cleverley’s plans then Louza will want first-team football elsewhere and the Hornets could decide to cash in on him, though it’s unlikely they would recoup all of the €10m they paid for him in 2021.

With Ben Hamer and Jake Livermore having been released, Cleverley will also want to bring in new players – that will require funds to be made available, as well as the head coach utilising the loan market, something he told the Watford Observer he intends to do.

The senior squad, which was thin enough last season, is certainly lacking numbers although business in the Championship has been slow since the transfer window opened earlier this month, something not uncommon when there are major tournaments taking place.