Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson would like to see the Gunners sign Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.

The TV pundit believes the Frenchman would be an improvement on Lucas Torreira, who has been widely praised for his performances this season:

“They should sign Abdoulaye Doucoure at Watford – he’d walk into the team. I’d take him tomorrow morning. He’s a much better player than Torreira and he scores goals. He’s one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League – he could play for any of the top six.”

“It seems no-one pays attention to him because he plays for Watford and fans will say, ‘Why are we buying him, he’s at Watford?’ – but he’s a proper player.”

Doucoure has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, although so far there has been no indication that the Hornets star is close to leaving Vicarage Road.

Everton and Tottenham have also reportedly been interested in the 26-year-old, and the player himself hasn’t been shy to say that he has ambitions of playing for a bigger club.

Speaking earlier this month, Doucoure said he was “flattered” by interest from PSG but he is open to moving to any club with Champions League football:

“The most important thing for me is to continue to progress and with my performances I’ll succeed in playing for a club in Europe. Staying in England is a possibility and the Italian league is becoming more interesting.”

“There are clubs who have returned to show interest in me again. The first criteria for me is that the club plays in the Champions League.”

Whether that would rule out Arsenal, it would very much depend on where they finish this season. Unai Emery’s side are currently just three points off Chelsea in fourth.