Unfortunately, the rumour regarding Ben Whiteman appears to be false. https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/transfer-news/ben-whiteman-transfers-watford-preston-25988358
Hungbo gone on loan to Huddersfield. https://www.htafc.com/news/2023/january/loan-joseph-hungbo-signs-for-town/
It will be interesting to see if he can make the step up whilst he's there: it hasn't really happened for him this season, the gulf in class from the SPL also rans and the Championship is clear as day. Good luck to him.
We're apparently "keeping an eye on" Stade Reims midfielder Marshall Munetsi. That takes me right back to my playing days, when a team I played for in Queensland had a Marshall, a Constable, a Sherriff and two Bobbies. Burnley and Watford keeping tabs on Ligue 1 midfielder - The72
Well Monday has been and gone, and Tuesday is almost over - but no word of any midfielder signing. Bloody rumours!
Henrique Araújo, 20 year old striker from Benfica, reported to be joining Watford on loan. He will be 21 years old tomorrow. Apparently he is highly rated, but needs more regular first team football. Comments (underneath the announcement on twitter) suggest that Benfica supporters are not happy that he is being sent out on loan. He has scored for Benfica in the Primeira Liga (Portuguese first division) and in the Champions League. He is also the first choice central striker for the Portugal U-21 team. Araújo has scored 5 goals in 14 games for Benfica's first team, as well as 36 in 55 for their B team (which play in the second division) and 7 goals in 11 games for the Portugal U-21 team.
A potential loan deal for Henrique Araújo has also been reported by Jason Burt in the Telegraph. A final decision will be made today. I know very little about Henrique Araújo (who was born in Funchal, Madeira), but someone wrote that he can do a bit of everything and is highly talented. I have also read that he has a physical presence. He came on as a substitute and scored on his Champions League debut away at Maccabi Haifa in November 2022. It was a goal which helped to ensure that Benfica topped the table of Group H, although Benfica were already leading 4-1 in the game. Major European clubs, such as Real Madrid, started showing an interest in him after he scored a hat-trick in the 2022 UEFA Youth League final in a 6–0 win over Red Bull Salzburg (to help Benfica win their first Youth League title). I doubt that Watford will be signing him permanently because he has a buyout clause of €100 million in his contract, but it will be a major coup if he joins Watford on loan for the rest of the season. The influence of Helena Costa?
It's not every day we sign an £88million rated player - if he does come here, it'll be a bit of a record.
I hope this deal gets across the line but I'm dubious. I think its been announced too early and bigger clubs may come in. Also heard they want a minimum playing time clause put in, I don't think we will accept that, certainly not on the terms mentioned.
https://www.record.pt/futebol/futeb...rd-henrique-araujo-viaja-hoje-para-inglaterra (Record News: Henrique Araújo travels to England today) Benfica dropped the minimum playing time clause, which Watford refused to accept because it would have had a penalty of €1 million if not fulfilled. Henrique Araújo is on his way to England today in order to undertake a medical and to sign the paperwork for him to join Watford on loan until the end of the season.
If he's as good as he is reported to be, I could totally understand Benfica wanting a minimum playing time clause - potentially, he's the one who will 'fire' us into the EPL and we'd be mad not to give him maximum minutes instead of allowing him to cool his heels on the bench. Wonder if he'll be here in time to play on Saturday?
