Liverpool have long been linked with the Derby County player but he seems to be on his way to the Hornets.
According to a report from the Telegraph, Watford are closing in on an £8million move for Derby County midfielder Will Hughes, but could long-term suitors Liverpool regret not making a move of their own?
The Reds have scouted Hughes for the last six years, but despite regular name-checks in the rumour mill he remained at Pride Park.
While he was once touted for a big-money move to Anfield, with the Mirror reporting back in 2013 that then-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had agreed first option on the player, he continued to ply his trade in the Championship, racking up 189 appearances for Derby in the process.
Now he seems to be finally making the move to the Premier League, with Watford rather than Liverpool, and while it would be easy to write him off as a former wonder-kid whose stock has subsequently fallen, he only recently turned 22.
Only time will tell if Hughes justifies the hype by making waves in the top flight, yet he can certainly not be accused of cashing in on the initial headlines, slowly and steadily building his experience at Derby before finally moving on this summer.
Derby fans would be forgiven for wondering how, in such an inflated transfer market, Hughes can be sold for just £8million (potentially rising to £10million with add-ons), but for that kind of money Liverpool supporters may also be wondering why the Reds are not chancing their hand.
Hughes could excel at Anfield, and if he instead moves to Vicarage Road and stars for the Hornets, Liverpool will only have themselves to blame for not acting when a cut-price deal was on offer.
The player once hailed as the heir apparent to Steven Gerrard could be one of the bargains of the summer, and if that proves to be the case, it will be Watford rather than Liverpool who are laughing.
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