Watford Wonderkid Othmane Maamma Sparks Premier League Interest From Everton and Brentford

Premier League clubs are circling Watford wonderkid Othmane Maamma after the Moroccan impressive Championship breakthrough season has sparked growing interest in his signature, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Scouts from Everton and Brentford have both been keeping close tabs on the exciting 20-year-old winger as his reputation continues to soar following a string of fearless performances in the Championship.

Maamma only arrived at Vicarage Road last summer from Montpellier for a fee believed to be under £1million, a deal already being hailed internally as one of the smartest pieces of business of the Pozzo ownership.

And less than a year later the Hornets are sitting on a player whose value has rocketed.

The dynamic attacker, who operates mainly on the right wing but can also play on the left, came through Montpellier’s academy before breaking into their first team.

He made 14 appearances in Ligue 1, where his explosive pace and strength first marked him out as a player with huge potential.

But it was on the international stage where Maamma truly announced himself.

STANDOUT PERFORMER

The winger helped Morocco win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in October and was the standout performer of the tournament, walking away with the Golden Ball as its best player.

His remarkable year was capped when he was named African Young Player of the Year, confirmation that one of the continent’s brightest young talents had arrived.

Since returning from that triumph he has continued to impress in England.

Maamma has made 20 appearances for Watford this season, scoring four goals and quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in the Championship.

Inside the club he is already regarded as a genuine talent for the future.

Watford assistant sporting director Valon Behrami admits even the club have been surprised by how quickly the youngster has adapted.

He said: “We saw his quality, of course, but his growth was so fast when he arrived back here after the World Cup." 

“What surprised me wasn’t the quality, but how fast he did this process.”

In other Watford-related news, Hornets midfielder Tom Ince is reportedly considering a move to Australia this summer, with Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory both potential destinations.

RAPID RISE

Watford currently sit just outside the Championship play-off places in ninth as they chase a late push for promotion, and Maamma’s rapid rise has not gone unnoticed.

The Toffees and Bees are both closely-monitoring the young gun, with both clubs known for identifying emerging talent before their value explodes.

Sources say scouts from both clubs have been watching the winger closely, but Watford tied Maamma down to a long-term deal when he arrived last summer and he still has three years remaining on his contract.

That means the Hornets hold a strong position, with insiders saying it would take offers of at least £15million to even begin a conversation.

For now the focus is firmly on his development in Hertfordshire.

But if Maamma keeps lighting up the Championship with the same swagger that helped Morocco conquer the world at Under-20 level, Watford may soon find themselves fighting to keep hold of their latest bargain buy.