Exclusive: Guedioura holding out for move to Watford FC

Adlene Guedioura has turned down two opportunities to leave Crystal Palace as he has his heart set firmly on a return to Watford.

WD Sport sources told us earlier today that Palace have accepted bids of £3.5million from both Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City and granted permission for the Algerian to discuss personal teams with the Championship clubs.

However, Guedioura does not want to move to Loftus Road or Ashton Gate as his preferred destination is Vicarage Road. Watford are still keen to bring him back and bolster their midfield options but Gino Pozzo, we are told, will not budge from his offer of £500,000 for a player who turns 30 in November.

Palace co-chairman Steve Parrish want to at least recoup the £2m they paid Nottingham Forest for him two years ago so the situation has reached deadlock. Watford paid £500,000 to Palace after promotion to the Premier League activated a clause inserted in the loan agreement that brought Guedioura to Vicarage Road for a second time in February and have offered the same sum to bring back on a permanent basis.

Pozzo has a reputation for not conceding ground on his valuation of a player, as he showed with Rudy Gestede. He would not budge from the £5m he offered Blackburn Rovers and missed out the striker, who was keen to come to Vicarage Road, because Aston Villa offered more. Critics will argue you have to pay top dollar to land the players you want but Pozzo’s principles have reaped handsome rewards at Udinese and Vicarage Road and sends a clear message he will not be dragged into an auction.

The situation leaves Guedioura in limbo. One player who trained with the midfielder this summer told us how unhappy and disinterested he seemed at being asked to train with the Under-21 side. He is clearly no longer part of Alan Pardew’s plans but, as we first reported, it may be take until the end of the summer transfer window for his future to be resolved.

Watford have two shirt numbers available in the squad list they announced on Saturday, No 12 and No 17, suggesting they have at least two more deals to finalise.

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