Fulham are interested in Emmanuel Dennis after their promotion into the Premier League, which would make the striker only their sixth transfer from Watford over the last 30 years.
Marco Silva is weighing up raiding Vicarage Road to bolster his attacking arsenal as he bids to keep the Cottagers a top-flight team next season. Fulham have immediately returned to the Championship following the club’s previous two promotions over the last five seasons.
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Dennis could now serve as an option to help 43-goal Championship top-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic next term following Watford’s relegation. The Nigerian scored 10 and created six goals over his 33 Premier League games this season after a £3m transfer from Club Brugge.
Fulham are interested in Watford raid for the sought-after Emmanuel Dennis
Dennis dazzled in a difficult season for Watford as he instantly took to the Premier League and threatened from multiple forward positions. The six-cap centre-forward could now aid Mitrovic in keeping Fulham in the top-flight after the Serbian only scored three in 2020/21.
Fulham are interested in what Dennis can have to offer under Silva after Watford suffered another relegation. The Athletic note the 24-year-old’s agent is aware the Craven Cottage natives and Southampton are among five teams currently considering tabling a formal bid.
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All five of his potential suitors are also aware the Hornets value Dennis at £20-25m if they are to sell. The forward additionally wishes to remain a Premier League player next season, and fits Silva’s desired profile for his targets as the Portuguese is eying a versatile attacker.
But Silva could face strong competition for Dennis should Fulham step up their interest in the Watford ace. The Mirror report West Ham United are willing to pay £20m for the 5 ft 8 star. The Daily Mail also report Watford expect interest from Crystal Palace and Brentford.
Should Fulham win any race for Dennis’ signature, the striker would become just the sixth Watford player to join the Cottagers over the last 30 years. So, with that in mind, how did the last five to switch Vicarage Road for Craven Cottage go on to perform in West London?
Fulham will hope for more from Dennis than Chalobah amid interest in Watford ace
Fulham would hope to see more from Dennis than Silva managed to coax from Nathaniel Chalobah should they sign the Watford ace. The Cottagers raided Vicarage Road last year for the one-cap England international, but he failed to secure an instrumental presence.
Chalobah featured 22 times across all competitions for the Craven Cottage natives after he left Hertfordshire on August’s deadline day. Yet the midfielder only started in 11 of his 20 Championship games as Fulham won the title, along with opening roles in two FA Cup ties.
Quina made swift Craven Cottage exit after last-gasp loan switch
Domingos Quina secured a last-gasp loan move to Fulham from Watford on deadline day last August. But the 22-year-old would make a swift exit from Craven Cottage in January and returned to Vicarage Road, having only featured four times across all competitions.
Silva had not featured the Portugal U21 international in a Championship fixture since last August, either. Quina would move to Barnsley for the remainder of the season and played in 16 from a potential 17 second-tier fixtures, while also starting each of his appearances.
Chalobah and Quina ended 14-year gap to Fulham’s Watford raid for Bouazza
Chalobah and Quina’s deadline day arrivals ended a 14-year gap to Fulham’s last Watford raid for Hameur Bouazza. The Cottagers signed the Algerian under Lawrie Sanchez in 2007 for an initial £3m, up to £4m after any add-ons. But the winger only made a limited impact.
Bouazza only offered Fulham one goal and two assists over his 22 appearances, with both offered over 20 Premier League games. The 22-cap international would then join Charlton on loan in 2008 and Birmingham in 2009 before joining Sivasspor – yet left after one week.
Helguson was Fulham’s first Premier League-era signing from Watford in 2005
Heidar Helguson became Fulham’s first Premier League-era signing from Watford when he moved to West London in 2005. The Cottagers paid £1.3m to eclipse a £1m, plus £250k in add-ons, offer from Sunderland after he helped Watford avoid relegation into league One.
The 55-cap Iceland international had spent five seasons at Vicarage Road after joining from Lillestrom for £1.5m. But he would only spend two years at Craven Cottage before moving to Bolton for £2.2m, having hit 14 goals and three assists in 63 outings in all competitions.
Byrne enjoyed brief Fulham spell Watford ace Dennis would hope to avoid
David Byrne enjoyed a brief spell with Fulham after joining on loan from Watford in 1992 that Dennis would hope to avoid repeating amid Silva’s interest in a transfer this summer. The midfielder made a temporary move to West London in February and left the same month.
The London-born ace additionally only featured a handful of times for the Cottagers before his swift farewell. Byrne had similarly struggled to gain regular minutes with Watford after joining from Plymouth Argyle, and he would continue to do so until he joined St Johnstone.
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