Considered one of the most talented young goalkeepers in Italy until a certain Gianluigi Donnarumma rocked up, Alex Meret is currently plying his trade at SPAL on loan from Udinese.
The 20-year-old, who has only just recovered from an injury that kept him out for most of the season, was one of the main reasons the small Italian club won Serie B and got promoted to Serie A during the last campaign.
However, his future could be in England, at Watford, to be more precise.
According to his agent in a chat with Tuttosport, relayed by Calciomercato, Federico Pastorello, the young goalkeeper probably won’t be going too far from the Pozzo family bubble if he is to eventually leave Udinese.
He said: “It’s amazing how he’s come back after missing the last six months. He’s got an extraordinary future ahead of him. If you look at the time missed this year, he’ll have to be a regular next year somewhere too.
“Given that he’s owned by Udinese, I see him playing for a team owned by Pozzo: that means Udinese, or at most, Watford.”
With Javi Gracia currently using Orestis Karnezis while Heurelho Gomes recovers from a back strain, a new goalkeeper once the Greek shot stopper returns to Udinese could be useful, especially considering the injured Brazilian is 36 years of age.
Meret could certainly be the kind of player the Hornets turn to to succeed the former Tottenham goalkeeper down the line, and they’ll have easy access to him thanks to their owner if that’s what they decide to do.
Meret’s loan with SPAL comes to an end at the end of the season.
Watford have recently signed Pontus Dahlberg from IFK Goteborg, where he’s returned on loan for the rest of the season. Dahlberg is 18 years of age but very highly rated, perhaps he could go to Udinese if Meret comes the other way.
