Exclusive: Don Goodman reacts to "incredible" Burnley decision involving Watford | OneFootball

Don Goodman has given his reaction to reports that Watford have turned down a £10 million bid from Burnley for striker Mamadou Doumbia.

Pundit Don Goodman has praised Watford owner Gino Pozzo for the ambition he has shown in the transfer market this summer after he reportedly rejected a £10 million bid from Burnley for striker Mamadou Doumbia.

Doumbia joined Watford from Black Stars FC last summer, and after being slowly introduced to Championship action, he was a regular starter in the second half of last season under former head coach Tom Cleverley.

The 19-year-old may only have scored twice for the Hornets last season, but one of those strikes came in the 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley in April, and his performance that day clearly made an impression on the Clarets, who are believed to have tabled a huge £10 million bid.

However, that offer was rejected by the Hornets as they view Doumbia as a key part of their plans for next season, and despite the Mali international signing a six-year contract when he arrived at Vicarage Road last summer, the club are said to be keen to tie him down to a new deal.

It has been a busy start to the summer for Watford following the arrival of new boss Paulo Pezzolano, and having already signed Nathan Baxter, James Abankwah, Marc Bola, Hector Kyprianou, Othmane Maamma, Vivaldo Semedo and Luca Kjerrumgaard, they are now closing in on a €3 million (£2.6 million) deal for Bayern Munich winger Nestory Irankunda.

Don Goodman reacts as Watford reject Burnley, Mamadou Doumbia approach

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman admitted he was surprised to see Burnley make such a significant bid for a player who is still relatively unproven at Championship level, but he claimed that Watford's decision to rebuff the offer is another indication of Pozzo's ambition.

"You have to say that Watford have shown incredible ambition in the transfer market so far," Goodman said.

"They have signed a lot of players, some young, exciting players from all over the world.

"For them to turn down £10 million for a young striker who has only started 12 Championship games in his career and only scored two goals is incredible really.

"It's incredible that Burnley would bid £10 million for a young player who has literally started 12 games.

"Having said all of that, it is clear that Doumbia has enormous potential, and if I were a Watford fan and they do decide to keep him, I'd be pretty excited about their striking options for next season."

Many owners would have been tempted to cash in on a striker who has scored just two league goals if they received a bid as high as £10 million, but the fact Pozzo turned down Burnley's bid again highlights his desire to retain the club's best players.

Pozzo is also believed to have rejected interest in midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze and forward Kwadwo Baah this summer, and after it was claimed in May that he is preparing to sell Italian side Udinese in order to focus more on events at Vicarage Road, it seems he is now fully committed to delivering success for Watford.

Having impressed in the second half of last season, Doumbia will need to add more goals to his game in the upcoming campaign, but there is no doubt that he is an incredibly exciting option for Pezzolano to have at his disposal.