Zlatko Dalic, Marcelino Garcia Toral and Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi have all emerged as leading candidates to replace Nigel Pearson at Watford, according to The Standard.
With the Hertfordshire-based outfit seemingly setting their sights on two of the most highly-rated coaching talents in Europe, their hopes of luring either Dalic or Marcelino to Vicarage Road may rest solely on what happens this Sunday.
As it stands, Watford are stuck in the relegation zone and a defeat against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Emirates would send them plummeting into the Championship.
The decision to sack Pearson with two matchdays remaining continues to leave fans and pundits alike baffled.
If the Hornets pull off a great escape at the eleventh hour, and then lure a World Cup finalist or La Liga veteran to England, then Pearson’s sudden departure might have been justified.
53-year-old Dalic has won trophies in Albania, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, before leading a star-studded Croatia team to the World Cup final in 2018, beating England in the semis.
Dalic did, however, sign a new contract until 2022 on Friday.
Marcelino, meanwhile, is a tireless, pocket rocket of a coach who prowls the touchline like a Spanish Antonio Conte; inspiring breathtaking attacking football but often leaving players and directors weary thanks to an unrelenting intensity.
A man who finished in La Liga’s top three for three successive seasons with Villarreal also inspired Valencia to the Copa del Rey crown in 2019, beating Barcelona to end an 11-year wait for silverware before being sacked a few months later after a disagreement with owner Peter Lim.
The Standard adds that Lamouchi is another option for Watford – and probably a more attanable one too.
The Frenchman is facing an uncertain future at Nottingham Forest after a remarkable final day collapse saw the two-time European champions fall out of the play-offs in the final moments of the season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
