"£5-10 million" - Watford FC urged to oversee player sale | OneFootball

FLW's Watford fan pundit urges his side to cash-in on the midfielder ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Highlights

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Watford face a huge dilemma this summer, as Imrân Louza returns to the club after a season-long loan at French club Lorient.

The 25-year-old joined the Hornets ahead of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign. However, after a year-and-a-half playing Championship football, the French-Morroccan midfielder joined Lorient on loan in January.

Louza made 14 Ligue 1 appearances, but could not stop the team from the drop, as Lorient were relegated on goal difference at the end of last season. He does have a release clause in his contract and that could make his potential sale easier for Watford, who would benefit from the cash influx.

Louza has failed to fit into the Championship

Despite his high potential when arriving from FC Nantes three years ago for a reported £8.5 million, Louza has struggled to show what he is truly capable of, particularly in the second tier of English football.

There is no doubting his talent, but he has been plagued by injuries during his time at Vicarage Road, and with his high wages, Watford can not afford to keep paying out for a player who has made just 56 league appearances for them in two-and-a-half seasons.

He was one of Lorient's best players last year, even though he only featured in a small number of matches. His close-control and ability to carry the ball forward makes him a target for clubs in both the Premier League and in the top divisions abroad.

FLW'sWatford fan pundit, Justin Beattie, believes that this summer is the correct time to sell their once number one transfer target:

"I'm not entirely convinced that Imrân Louza wants to play for Watford in the Championship. I think he sees himself very much as a Premier League player," Justin told Football League World.

"He wasn't missed after he went out on loan last season, so I think it's time to let him go. I don't think that he should be brought back in under Tom Cleverley."

Getting the Louza price right

With Louza looking likely to find a new club in the transfer window, it is still important that Watford get the right amount of money for him.

At 25, he is still well before his prime years, and with four years left on his deal in Hertfordshire, he could command a high fee. If reports are correct and Louza's contract does have a release clause in it, then it is unlikely that they will lose money from the £8.5 million they reportedly paid in 2021.

But, Justin is not 100% certain about the potential fee that the club may seek: "In terms of how much he's worth, I'm not entirely sure. I would think you're probably looking somewhere between £5-£10 million.

"I think it's time to cash in on that and let him go and find players that are interested in playing for Watford in the championship, instead."

Manager Cleverley will want to use the money to improve in other areas of the pitch, with Watford in need of a new striker to fire them up the league table next season after a disappointing 2023/24.

They are also lacking a left-back. The money from a Louza sale could help bring in players that are not only needed, but also want to play for the club.