Watford chairman Scott Duxbury has revealed the club has already rejected interest in Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda, insisting another season in England remains the best option for the 20-year-old’s development.
Irankunda remains a Watford player despite reports suggesting he was closing in on a move to Portuguese powerhouse Sporting CP.
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Speaking publicly about the transfer interest surrounding the Australian, Duxbury confirmed the club had spoken directly with Irankunda and remains determined to keep him.
“We spoke to him [Irankunda] and we still think staying here is the best thing for his career,” Duxbury said on the Championship side’s official podcast.
“We all want him and all of our players to play at the highest level – because we’re achieving our objectives then. They’ve been successful, we’ve been successful.
“I still think with him, at least another season with us can help achieve his objectives.
“We don’t want to lose any of the four wingers. The market is what the market is, and I can’t guarantee what will happen, but if something does happen then it means we have the funds to improve.
“But our intention, as it stands now, is that all four stay, because we truly believe that it’s in their best interests.
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“That’s why we’ve knocked back the interest so far and hopefully that will continue.”
The four wingers Duxbury was referring to are Irankunda, Othmane Maamma, Kwadwo Baah and Rocco Vata, who have all attracted interest during the transfer window.
Irankunda had been expected to join Sporting in a deal reportedly worth up to €20 million ($32.5 million AUD).
The Socceroos attacker has also been linked with newly promoted Premier League side Hull City, Everton, Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, Serie A club Fiorentina and West Ham.
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Reports had suggested Irankunda had his heart set on a move to Sporting after removing any trace of Watford from his social media accounts, but Dowling claims the youngster is happy to be back at the club.
“There’s been some interest in Nestory, which I think the club has done great in knocking back,” he said.
“He came back from a positive World Cup and he’s delighted to be here. The smile’s back on his face.
“We have four great wingers in Maamma and Vata on the left and there’s obviously Baah and Nestory on the right side, which offers us pace, skill, goals, assists.
“With the midfield behind them backing that up, that should be a real strength of ours going forwards.”
Despite Watford’s public stance, there could still be more twists to come in the Irankunda transfer saga.
Portuguese outlet Record claims talks between Watford and Sporting remain ongoing, although the Lisbon club reportedly does not intend to increase the offer already on the table.
However, according to Football 360, Watford is attempting to increase the value of the performance-related bonuses included in the deal as negotiations continue.