Mark Ogden @MOgdenTelegraph 6m6 minutes ago Quique Sanchez Flores keen to take Victor Valdes to Watford, but still some work to do on that...#mufc Not sure he'd want to come and be 2nd choice here but...
Kevin Affleck again: Transfer team working overtime for Quique Sanches Flores AUG 31, 2015BY KEVIN AFFLECK963 VIEWS1 The ambition driving Watford’s pursuit of three players before tomorrow’s deadline can be illustrated by the fact they were in the race to sign two international forwards from Liverpool. WD Sport can confirm the Hornets held discussions with representatives of Lazar Markovic and Fabio Borini but they were unable to match the salaries they were offered at Fenerbache and Sunderland respectively. The interest, we are told, in Borini was long-standing and a result of connections with his former agent, but the money he was offered at Sunderland was apparently double the amount Gino Pozzo and Scott Duxbury were prepared to pay the Italy international. Contrary to widespread reports, there was no interest whatsoever in signing Elvis Manu, the Feyenoord winger who has joined Brighton while Michail Antonio, the Forest winger in talks with West Ham, was never on the club’s radar. A big-money move for Abdoulaye Doucoure has been complicated by interest in the Rennes powerhouse from West Bromwich Albion and Napoli, a further reminder of just why the recruitment team prefer to keep their transfer targets and deals under wraps. To that end, the transfer committee were particularly pleased to swiftly conclude a deal for Valon Behrami before others were alerted to his availability. Mile Jedinak, the out of favour Crystal Palace option, is one alternative being considered to Doucoure. The presence of his fellow countryman Harry Kewell at Vicarage Road could prove useful in fighting off interest from elsewhere. A buyer for Essaid Belkalem is still being is sought but the future of Miguel Layun has not yet been decided. The possibility of considering letting him leave will hinge on any need to reduce the wage bill and free up a foreign player spot if a major target unexpectedly becomes available. Likewise with Almen Abdi. Layun is, we are told, not in Portugal having a medical with Porto and is instead training with his national team ahead of their match with Trinidad & Tobago in Utah on Friday. A winger and a holding midfielder remain the primary targets for the Hornets and a deal for a striker will only be considered if it is deemed he represents an upgrade on Matej Vydra, the Czech who the club know they have buyers queuing up to sign. Victor Ibarbo, the Roma striker, is the latest name to be linked. Transfer windows in France, Italy, Germany and Spain – the markets the Pozzo family prefer operating in – close tonight. The window is England shuts at 6pm tomorrow. Watford’s foreign players: Heurelho Gomes Allan Nyom Miguel Britos Jose Manuel Jurado Valon Behrami Matej Vydra Steven Berghuis Almen Abdi Odion Ighalo Sebastian Prodl Jose Holebas Etienne Capoue Giedrius Arlauskis Gabriele Angella Joel Ekstrand Juan Carlos Parades Miguel Layun Essaid Belkalem Alessandro Diamanti Total No of foreign players: 19 Number allowed in a Premier League squad: 17
Does feel a bit like we are the kids in the toy shop, picking up something shiny then discarding it when we see something that looks better! I'm just hoping / trusting that they know what they are doing. In a way we should be glad that the window ends so we can start to work with a stable squad.
and maybe a couple more coming tomorrow Judging by Fessi's comments on his thread... nothing is certain...
I did read a comment just after our promotion was confirmed suggesting that fans would have to come to terms with being in the PL even more than the players. Looking at some reactions this is certainly proving to be correct. There was plenty of excitement when we had a transfer window, something that seems to me to be a simple marketing idea, but as with so much associated with our top division taken to extremes. It doesn't seem that FFP rules have little or any real reigning in effect on clubs throughout the professional football world. I would be quite happy if this artificial devise was scrapped.
The transfer window to start with, but if the FFP rules were re-written and applied differently that could help. As things are at present they just allow the largest clubs to make the rules look stupid.
Layun out to Porto ...... just after a number of live Watford games have been bought by an American channel just so they can show them to their Mexican audience!!
FFP is going to be scrapped soon I think. So really we have sort of replaced FF and maybe Vydra with this bloke? Albeit only on loan. Only loan moves and domestic signing approved now I think?
VYDRA TO READING? Sky sources understand Watford's Matej Vydra is joining Reading on a season-long loan. The deal is understood to include a loan fee on £2m.
Sky sources understand Watford's Matej Vydra is joining Reading on a season-long loan. The deal is understood to include a loan fee on £2m.
