Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is ‘very; keen on a move to Watford despite holding talks with Premier League rivals Newcastle United, as reported by Il Tempo.
Even the most optimistic Watford supporter would be forgiven for reading our opening paragraph with a rather bemused look on their face.
Because, while Newcastle are openly aiming for a future in the Champions League and boasting the kind of financial muscle most clubs could only dream of, Roy Hodgson’s Hornets look certain to be making those dreaded midweek pilgrimages to Bristol, Reading and Preston once again in 2022/23.
Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Leeds means Watford are now seven points from safety. They’ve won just twice since hammering Manchester United 4-1 on November 20th.
Relegation feels like only a matter of time.
But, according to Il Tempo, via TMW, an immediate return to the second-tier has not put Strakosha off a potential summer move to Vicarage Road.
The Albania international will be a free-agent in July. And it is understood that he is ‘very fond’ of a Watford side sitting just one point off the bottom of the table.
Where is Thomas Strakosha heading?
This comes after Newcastle United initiated contact to bring Strakosha to St James’ Park, as reported by La Lazio Siamo Noi.
Unlike Watford, the newly-moneyed Magpies have all-but secured their top-flight status for 2022/23 following a deserved 1-0 victory over an insipid Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night.
Newcastle also have an interest in Brighton’s Spain international Robert Sanchez, as well as the seldom-seen Dean Henderson and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Magpies are being linked with a move for Odysseas Vlachomidos too. Though the Benfica stopper played down those reports when asked ahead of last week’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Interestingly, Watford have already secured one new goalkeeper ahead of next season. The Hornets beat Crystal Palace and Southampton to the £6 million signing of Sparta Rotterdam’s Maduke Okoye.
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