Watford are close to signing Barcelona striker Rey Manaj, according to claims from the Catalan media.
Sport managed to back up a report from journalist Achraf Ben Ayad saying the Hornets are interested in the deal, and working to land the 25-year-old.
The good news for Watford is that the signing wouldn’t come with a transfer fee attached, with Barcelona only keeping a percentage of a future sale.
Following this interest from the Hornets in having him as part of their fight for promotion back to the Premier League, it’s said the player did not join Barcelona’s squad for medical tests on Monday morning. That gives a clue he could be close to a move, and Sport say the player may be packing his bags soon.
Manaj, who was bought by Barcelona in January 2020, was never really used in the first team squad, having spent last season on loan at Spezia. There he managed five goals in 30 appearances, turning out to be one of the best seasons in his career. And that was apparently enough to impress Watford.
According to Sport, the operation could be ‘all closed’ in the ‘coming days’.
