How much Watford could really sell Imran Louza for as Everton, Fulham & Brighton lurk | OneFootball

The Premier League trio have registered interest in Watford's Imran Louza, who is angling for a move away after missing out on the World Cup

Watford are coming off their worst league finish in 16 years, after the Hornets finished 16th in the Championship following one win in their final 11 games.

Despite the incredibly disappointing campaign, there was one bright light at Vicarage Road, and that was the re-emergence of Imran Louza, who ended the term with seven goals and nine assists - the most goal contributions he's managed in a single term in his career.

The 27-year-old has endured a turbulent five years at Watford, arriving for a reported £10 million while the Hornets were still a Premier League club, but failed to make an impact in the top flight, and struggled to find his feet in the second tier, too.

Louza was even loaned out back to France in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, and many felt the move to Lorient would signal the end of his Watford career then. Still, he remained in Hertfordshire, and this past season, he's been a class above the rest of the Hornets squad in the Championship.

Premier League interest was always going to come his way this summer, but an important omission from the Morocco side for the World Cup has made it close to being a formality now.

Imran Louza set to depart Watford - three Premier League clubs circling

According to Africa Foot, Louza is not expected to remain at Watford for the 2026/27 campaign, despite still being under contract with the Vicarage Road-based side until 2028.

Premier League interest is rife in the 27-year-old, with Fulham and Everton already making inquiries about the Moroccan playmaker, and Brighton has been attributed with interest, as well as several clubs in Saudi Arabia.

The inevitable transfer has likely been fuelled by Louza's omission from the Morocco squad for this summer's World Cup, too. The 27-year-old was recalled to the fold for his first cap since 2023 in the pre-World Cup training camp last month, but was not included in the final 26-man squad.

Coming off the back of the best season of his career, Louza may believe that staying in the Championship can only be detrimental to his chances at breaking back into the Moroccan fold permanently.

A move to the Premier League wouldn't just resemble a step up after a strong second-tier campaign, but it could also put him in the eyeline of Mohamed Ouahbi ahead of future international windows.

Watford set to make good profit on Imran Louza if interested clubs meet price tag

Africa Foot goes on to mention that Watford are holding out for close to £15 million for Louza this summer if Premier League outfits come knocking, which would be a brilliant bit of business for the club.

Not only would that resemble a good bit of profit for the 27-year-old, but, despite his brilliance this past season, it would almost be a steal for a midfielder who has underperformed in large parts of his Watford career thus far.

Losing Louza now would be a blow, but Watford would have snapped the arm of a Premier League side that offered them £15 million for the midfielder this time last year.

With the World Cup on the horizon, there'll be cynics who believe that the 27-year-olds' increase in performance level, goal, and assist output this past season was to try to put himself in the best possible position to be included in the squad this summer. With no added motivation after that, there's a chance those levels could drop next year.

It'd be disappointing to part ways with such an influential playmaker, and Watford will definitely need to get his replacement correct to avoid slipping even further down the Championship table next season.

But if the price tag is met, Watford shouldn't hesitate to accept it.