It was only a matter of time, really, considering Watford have an Italian manager at the helm and are owned by an Italian businessman: the Hornets have been linked with Manolo Gabbiadini.
According to Corriere dello Sport on Thursday, the Premier League side have joined West Brom, Leicester, Southampton and Stoke City in the race to sign the 25-year-old striker from Napoli.
Earlier on Thursday, we covered the story from Gazzetta dello Sport that Tony Pulis’ side had placed themselves ahead of the pack, as West Brom made it clear they were prepared to spend €20m on Gabbiadini, but there was no mention of Watford.
This appears to be a Corriere dello Sport ‘exclusive’ story, if you will, yet there is no indication that Walter Mazzarri has ordered an offensive for the Italy international.
The Italian newspaper hype up a ‘duel’ between Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri and Watford’s Walter Mazzarri, two former Italy national team managers, for Gabbiadini, yet neither club have made an offer.
With three established strikers in the squad in Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and Stefano Okaka, it seems unlikely their Italian manager would be looking for a new goalscorer.
However, the club’s poor runs of results in the league (two wins and a draw in nine games) may force Watford to dip their toes in the transfer market if the right man comes along.
Is Gabbiadini (five goals in 19 appearances this season, three of which have come in the last three games) the right person for the job, though?
Gabbiadini has been linked to clubs including West Brom, Leicester City, Watford, Stoke City, Everton, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Newcastle United and Swansea City.
