Watford and Udinese owner Gino Pozzo may have planned out another ‘Pozzo special’ as he eyes up striker Ray Manaj for the Italian club.
That’s according to Messaggero Veneto, who say the striker could end up in Udine following his departure from Watford earlier this month.
The newspaper explains that Pozzo is ‘seriously thinking’ of taking Manaj to Udinese on a free transfer, although not immediately but in the summer.
Manaj was released by Watford at the beginning of February, with the two parties agreeing to end his contract early despite him only arriving last summer.
It was later explained that this was only a temporary exit, with his time at Vicarage Road not completely over if he can bounce back from injury in the coming months.
Messaggero Veneto now explain that may have been a ‘strategic termination’ as Pozzo has ‘sniffed out’ the possibility of signing the striker for Udinese in the summer.
He can sign him for the Italian side on a free transfer and, thanks to releasing him from Watford, would be able to avoid a ‘resale’ clause that was agreed in the deal between Barcelona and Watford when he moved last summer.
At the moment Manaj is not ready for a return and is still battling back to fitness but he will be ready in the summer and Pozzo is ready to move for him, particularly as Bologna are also considering a move.
Either way, Italy seems to be his ‘destiny’ in the coming months, particularly if Udinese sell striker Beto. If that happens, Manaj is among the ‘first choices’ for Pozzo.
