--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-08-24T02:43:38.478Z data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/watford/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2F0Zm9yZG9ic2VydmVyLmNvLnVrL3Nwb3J0LzI2NDQyOTI3LmEtbG90LW5vaXNlLWFyb3VuZC1sb3V6YS1qdXN0LW5vaXNlLz9yZWY9cnNz --- # 'A lot of the noise around Louza is just that, noise' | Watford Observer - **Source:** - **Club:** Watford - **Original URL:** https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/26442927.a-lot-noise-around-louza-just-noise/?ref=rss Louza has been linked with several clubs this week, including Paris FC, Ajax and Crystal Palace, but remains in full team training and Watford have not had any offers. His pre-season was pushed back after he was picked for a pre-World Cup camp with Morocco, while Alessio Dionisi revealed last week that he had asked to explore a move away and been further delayed in joining the team as a result. More: SUMMER SALE: £6 for six months of Watford coverage More: Team news: Ngakia close to return but Akomeah suffers injury He has been reintegrated into full training now, though, and is said to have impressed off the bench during Saturday's 1-0 behind-closed-doors win over Brentford. The 27-year-old has lost the club captaincy to Mattie Pollock this summer, but Dowling confirmed there were no ongoing talks to sell him and that - until that changes - he will be available to play. The sporting director said: "Imran is still a Watford player and as far as I'm aware, lots of the noise around him in terms of the press is just that, noise. "I watch him around training, I watched him come on against Brentford, and I think we need to start focusing on how good Imran is. "Imran Louza is one of the best midfielders in this league. He gets us playing, technically he's gifted, he sees passes, he makes us play, so the main focus as a club, as we speak, is to try and get him in the team. Imran Louza returns to action (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) "He had a slightly more extended break than others because he had a pre-World Cup camp with Morocco. Since he's been back, he's trained really hard and he's been great around the place. "He's a player I love watching. Nothing to report on Imran about from that he's here, working hard, doing great, and we're pleased he's still with us." Dowling also revealed that the changing of the captaincy had caused no friction in the squad, with Pollock prepared to drive fresh standards at London Colney. He said: "I've come back to the club and read perhaps what you guys write or what other people write, supporters write about Imran. "You have to treat people as you find them and Imran's a good guy. He cares, he's passionate, and with passion you might go on the wrong side of the line. More: Watford want centre-backs 'very soon' and can't wait all month for loans "Sometimes I don't mind that. Imran's been great, he understands it, and there's been no noise around it, which is a positive. "It shows to me that he's here, he accepts it and he's moved on with it. "Ultimately, players just want to play." Watford sporting director Luke Dowling (Image: Watford FC) Louza was skipper during a period at the end of last season when professionalism was questioned and the dressing room, as admitted by Ed Still, was divided. Dowling believes the appointment of Pollock as skipper can help drive standards back to where they need to be. More: Dowling knows Watford need a new striker and outlines ideal profile He said: "We know what went wrong, what wasn't great, and I can only comment on this pre-season, the noise that I'm hearing from the players. "We've got a new club captain, who I think typifies what we're trying to do as a club now in terms of communication, knowing what this club's about, and for the fans to try and have a little bit of a connection with the club. Mattie Pollock is the new Watford captain (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) "The chats that I have with him [Pollock] and other staff members have had with him is that that the atmosphere is extremely positive. "That will come from the head coach. He leads that, which is great, and I'm really optimistic as we speak now. "It's a nice feeling around the training ground. It's grown, I must admit, as each week's gone past in pre-season. If we'd have spoken after the Boreham Wood match we might have had a different conversation but it's a good feeling around the place at the minute."