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 gradually being acclimated to Championship action, he became a regular starter in the second half of last season under previous head coach Tom Cleverley.
| Mamadou Doumbia’s stats for Watford last season | |
| Appearances | 22 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 0 |
The 19-year-old only scored twice for the Hornets last season, but one of those goals came in a 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley in April, and his performance that day certainly impressed the Clarets, who are said to have submitted a massive £10 million proposal.
However, the Hornets rejected the offer because they see Doumbia as an important 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 is reported to be eager to tie him down to a new agreement.
Watford have had a busy start to the summer under new manager Paulo Pezzolano, 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 confessed he was shocked to see Burnley make such a substantial deal for a player who is still relatively unknown at Championship level, but he believes Watford’s choice to reject the offer demonstrates Pozzo’s ambition.
“You have to say that Watford have shown incredible ambition in the transfer market so far,” he remarked.
“They have signed a large number of players, including some young, promising talents from throughout the world.
“It’s amazing that they would turn down £10 million for a teenage striker who has only started 12 Championship games and scored two goals.
“It’s amazing that Burnley would offer £10 million for a young guy who has only 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.”
Mamadou Doumbia stance is a sign of Gino Pozzo’s fresh Watford commitment
Many owners would have been tempted to cash in on a striker with only two league goals if they received a price of £10 million, but Pozzo’s decision to turn down Burnley’s bid demonstrates his determination to keep the club’s best players.
Pozzo is also thought to have turned down offers for midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze and forward Kwadwo Baah this summer, and after it was reported in May that he was planning to sell Italian club Udinese in order to focus more on events at Vicarage Road, it appears he is now fully committed to delivering success for Watford.
Doumbia, who impressed in the second part of last season, will need to add more goals to his game in the next season, but there is no doubt that he is an extremely exciting alternative for Pezzolano to have at his disposal.
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