Abdoulaye Doucoure has been offered a new contract, the Watford Observer understands.

While Doucoure is yet to be approached in person over a new deal, a contract offer is currently on the table and the Hornets are in discussions with the player’s agent.

The news comes in the wake of reports the 25-year-old was set to become one of the club’s highest paid earners, with Watford believed to be ready to pay him £70,000-a-week over five years.

Doucoure has two-and-a-half years left to run on his current contract and Watford are understandably keen to tie him to a longer deal.

A string of fine performances this term has seen the athletic midfielder’s stock rise considerably and he is among the leading lights at Vicarage Road.

His displays have attracted admiring glances from some of the Premier League’s top sides, with Arsenal said to be among a number of outfits monitoring his situation.

The Frenchman is Watford’s top scorer this season with six goals, a healthy return for a midfield player, and has arguably been their most consistent performer.

Add to mix a fine pass completion rate and ability to break up play and it is easy to see why the box-to-box midfielder is attracting attention.

Watford would be loathed to lose a player who has developed considerably since arriving from Rennes for £8 million in the 2016 January window.

He initially struggled to earn regular first team football under Walter Mazzarri last season, but forced his way into the Italian’s side in the second half of the 2016/17 campaign, going from strength to strength since.