The Bournemouth Echo broke the news last week that AFCB had expressed an interest in Crystal Palace's Adlene Guedioura who had a couple of loan periods at Watford last season. With a year left in his contract at Palace Guedioura may not fall into the bargain bracket for signing but a price-tag of £2-3 million might be a reasonable outlay for the Cherries to consider, although Watford are also considered to be in the hunt for the player who could be enticed to play for one of the new Premier League clubs having not broken into Palace's starting eleven.
Adlene was born in France but plays for Algeria and has played for Forest and Wolves in the Championship. The central midfield role for the Cherries has been pretty settled for the last two seasons with Harry Arter and Andrew Surman and the spine of the team may well see a signing such as Adlene come to Dean Court, if Eddie Howe is feeling the need for more bite in the central area and a shade more fire power. Nicknamed the 'Rocket Factory', Guedioura is known for his fearsome shot from distance.
At 29, he has plenty of knowledge about the English game and having been a valuable part of Watford's promotion drive he could certainly adapt to the kind of quick passing football that is associated with the Cherries. Whether that zip makes him a good option to come in for Harry Arter at times would perhaps be the reason that Howe is said to be looking at Adlene.
You would have to expect that Watford would be favourites to sign Adlene, but with a new manager at the Hornets it might not be such a good avenue for him and AFCB offer plenty of scope for attacking players to express themselves.
AFCB are also said to be keen on former Man City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim at Olympiakos, who Watford are again also interested in, says TalkSport.
Adlene Guedioura would certainly be welcomed back at Watford, and as you rightly say he may not figure in Enrique Sanchez Flores' plans so might not return. On the other hand our head coach has very little say in which players come to the club, we have a team that identifies what needs strengthening and then doing something about it. Currently Watford have been linked with 73 (as I write) players; lazy journalism or a percieved need to strengthen the squad - some choices are ridiculous others laughable.
ReplyDeleteWherever Adlene Guedioura goes the team will benefit, unless of course, he is used like Crystal Palace have done.
Palace Fan here - AG, like Dwight Gayle - are great players who unfortunately haven't fitted into our system. AG has been especially unlucky in that when he did get a run in the team early last season he got a bad injury which put him out for around 2-3 months. He did really well at Watford and Notts Forest - just a shame for both parties that it hasn't happened in a red and blue shirt. Both of these players are going to be the kind you need to help you survive that difficult first season in the PL.
ReplyDeleteWill Watford be signing Albert Tatlock?
ReplyDelete