Lokomotiv Moscow make 7-figure transfer offer for Watford FC ace Imran Louza | OneFootball

The Hornets could lose one of their prized assets in the transfer window's final days.

Watford could be set to lose the services of central midfielder Imran Louza, with Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv Moscow submitting a seven-figure offer for the Moroccan.

New Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano has, unsurprisingly, seen plenty of change during his maiden transfer window in English football, with the Hornets making numerous additions on the incomings count, whilst also seeing several players move on from Hertfordshire, such as Joao Ferreira, Francisco Sierralta and Mileta Rajovic respectively.

Louza made it glaringly obvious on occasions during his Watford career that he is one of the most technically-gifted midfield players across the second-tier.

Therefore, it would no doubt come as a crushing blow to Pezzolano's aims of sustainably progressing Watford up the division should he leave, after years of continued turnover following their most recent Premier League relegation three years ago.

Lokomotiv Moscow in negotiations with Watford FC over potential Imran Louza transfer agreement

According to a fresh report from French sports news outlet, L'Équipe on Monday, Russian top-flight giants Lokomotiv Moscow are in transfer talks with Watford for Imran Louza.

It's believed that a fee in the region of €6m/approx £5.1m is being discussed between the two clubs, in what would be a major transfer blow for the Hornets.

Louza has spent the past four years at Vicarage Road, initially moving from his hometown club Nantes for a €9m fee in 2021 after the club immediately returned to the Premier League under then-head coach, Xisco Munoz.

After a tough first season in the top-flight, the deep-lying midfielder has since racked up a total of eight goals and 13 assists in just 71 Championship appearances, with a loan stint at Ligue 1 side, Lorient, sandwiched in-between during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Last season saw the midfielder back to his best though, scooping Watford's Player of the Season award under Tom Cleverley after dictating plenty of encounters whilst also scoring twice and registering five assists.

However, just three years after signing a new deal until 2028, Louza handed in a transfer request earlier this summer, and his wish of an exit could soon be granted.

L'Équipe also state that the 14-time international snubbed an offer from Turkish Süper Lig giants, Trabzonspor earlier in the summer.

Despite his desire to move away from Vicarage Road, Louza started Pezzolano's first three games in charge against Charlton, QPR and against Norwich City in the EFL Cup, but was omitted from the Watford travelling squad against Swansea City on Saturday afternoon for the first match in a three-game suspension.

This scenario represents a double-edged sword, as some supporters would argue that getting Louza off the books after handing in a transfer request allows a departure to benefit all involved.

However, after taking his performances from last season into account, it will be frustrating that a €3m loss still looks set to be on the cards.

Regardless, the club would still be shifting an ESTIMATED £32,500 per week off the wage bill, which allows the new head coach more room to manouvre in ahead of next Monday's transfer deadline, with Sky Sports reporting that the club are hopeful of making as many as 11 signings overall as they look to finalise a deal for Nikoloz Chikovani, who would be the ninth incoming at present.

The update also states that Watford are in the market for a centre-back and defensive midfielder, which only hints further that Louza could be on his way to the RZD Arena imminently.