Another year, another new era at Watford.
The Hornets have shook hands with yet another head coach – Roy Hodgson’s managerial career was already underway when Rob Edwards was born back in 1982 – and the side that trots out at Vicarage Road in August will look very different from the one that ended another dismal Premier League campaign with a feeble whimper in May.
Ben Foster is retiring, swapping his gloves for a Go-Pro.
Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr are unlikely to stick around either – both players have Premier League admirers. Selling the duo, for a combined fee in the region of £40 million, would ensure Edwards has plenty of money to spend in his debut season at Championship level.
The Athletic claim that Moussa Sissoko and Juraj Kucka are likely to head for the exits too, while Josh King has a relegation clause in his contract. The departures of all three players will reduce Watford’s wage bill substantially.
Hassane Kamara, one of the few players to emerge from the Watford wreckage with his reputation unscathed, could be on his way to West Ham United (The Express).
So expect a busy summer of incomings and outgoings, rumours and reports.
A brand new Watford side
At least Watford have already secured a replacement for one of their key players. Nigeria international and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Maduke Okoye turned down Crystal Palace and Southampton before sealing a £5 million move to Hertfordshire a couple of months ago.
He will take Foster’s place between the sticks.
In Samir, Imran Louza, Edo Kayembe, Samuel Kalu and Cucho Hernandez, Watford have a handful of players who should, in theory, thrive in the second tier.
Joao Pedro, Francisco Sierralta and Ken Sema also shone under Xisco Munoz in 2020/21.
Watford may also be tempted to bring Philip Zinckernagel back to Vicarage Road, offsetting the departures of Dennis and Sarr. The defence-splitting Dane has made a big impact on loan at play-off finalists Nottingham Forest but it is understood that there is no option to buy clause in his City Ground contract.
New full-backs?
Furthermore, Watford could potentially renew their interest in Borna Barisic, having failed with two bids in January. According to Football Scotland, Rangers will consider offers for the Croatian left-back, with Barisic looking a shadow of his once devastating self since the turn of the year.
Then again, Calvin Bassey’s impending move to Aston Villa threatens to complicate matters.
On the other flank, Edwards could do a lot worse than to reunite with Kane Wilson, the rampaging right-back who contributed three goals and 14 assists to Forest Green’s title-winning League Two campaign. Wilson is a free agent this summer, and a perfect fit for the 3-5-2 formation Edwards instilled at Forest Green.
The agent of Palmeiras midfielder Danilo confirms that Watford are interested in the ball-winning Brazilian. But, at £21 million, he is simply too expensive for a Championship club. Jean-Paul Boetius is far more affordable – and attainable – with the Dutchman’s contract at Bundesliga outfit Mainz coming to an end.
Watford or Celtic?
If Boetius adds creativity and cutting edge at one end, Cameron Carter-Vickers would go a long way to solving Watford’s defensive deficiencies at the other. Celtic can sign the Tottenham loanee for £6 million but reports linking Ko Itakura and Taylor Harwood-Bellis with the Glasgow giants suggest that contingency plans are being drawn up (Sky Sports).
- How Rangers’ XI could look in 22/23, including 5 new signings
- How West Ham’s XI could look in 22/23 with 4 new signings
Watford have been in touch, per SBI Soccer. The USA international will take some convincing, however, after helping Celtic seal a Champions League spot.
Carter-Vickers has a proven track record in the Championship and so does another Watford target, Dwight Gayle (The Athletic). The 32-year-old poacher fired Newcastle to the title in 2017 and West Brom to the paly-offs two years later.
Gayle’s eye for goal could easily be the difference between success and failure for a Watford side locked in an endless spin-cycle of transition.
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