"Fair price" - Watford told how to use imminent £15m Ismael Kone funds | OneFootball

Watford midfielder Ismael Kone is set to depart Vicarage Road this summer.

Highlights

This article is part of Football League World’s 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Midfielder Ismael Kone is set for a move away from Watford this summer.

Kone looks set to leave Vicarage Road and sign for Marseille in a deal worth around £15m including add-ons, according to The Athletic.

The 22-year-old is currently playing for Canada at the Copa América, and is expected to complete the transfer after the tournament.

Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr left Watford to join Marseille last summer, and it looks like Kone is going to follow in his footsteps.

Kone will link up with former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi in France, after it was confirmed that he is set to take over as head coach at the Orange Vélodrome.

Watford urged to re-invest the transfer fee

The Hornets are set to receive a significant transfer fee for the sale of Kone, and it is important that they use some of it to improve their squad.

Watford will be looking to improve on last season's disappointing 15th place finish in the Championship during the 2024/25 campaign, so they must ensure that they bring in an adequate replacement for Kone as well as bolster their options in other areas.

FLW's Hornets fan pundit Justin Beattie believes that Watford must use the money they have received for Kone to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.

He said: "I think that £15m including add-ons is a fair price for Ismael Kone, as he is still a very young player.

"Whether any of that money will be used to strengthen our squad remains to be seen.

"I very much suggest that it does need to be used to strengthen our squad. It wasn't good enough last season, and it isn't going to be good enough this season, particularly if players like Kone are sold.

"We definitely need to use the money that has come in from this sale, if it has happened, to strengthen our squad by bringing in the sort of players that Tom Cleverley both wants and needs."

Watford should have spending money available

Watford are yet to announce any new signings so far this summer, although 18-year-old Malian striker Mamadou Doumbia is set to arrive at Vicarage Road at the beginning of July after agreeing a deal in February.

The Hornets spent fees on Giorgi Chakvetadze, Mileta Rajovic and Tom Ince last season, but they only cost a fraction of the amount they reportedly received for the sales of Sarr, Joao Pedro and Christian Kabasele.

It is an important summer for Tom Cleverley at Watford, after he was named permanent head coach following his spell as interim boss at the end of last season. He will hope that he is given the opportunity to spend some money on new signings, as he looks to build a squad that is capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship table next season.

With Kone set to join Marseille, it is vital that Watford find the right replacement for him and use the transfer fee wisely this summer.