Watford are continuing negotiations with Barcelona over striker Rey Manaj, with a deal close to being ‘finalised’.
That’s according to Sport, who say the forward will move to Vicarage Road on a free transfer despite his contract at the Camp Nou expiring next summer.
The newspaper explains that Barcelona’s exit operation is beginning to ‘gain momentum’ after several weeks of the gears being stuck.
Those in charge at the club are working on departures to free up funds and, in particular, save on wages, and Manaj falls into that.
That deal included an option to be turned into a permanent one for €2.7m, but it wasn’t taken up, and now Watford have made their move.
They’ve shown the most interest in his signature and struck an agreement with Barcelona three days ago for him to make the move. Indeed, ‘he is already in England’ and is looking forward to the move to Vicarage Road.
He returned to training with Barcelona on Monday but didn’t get involved as Watford finalise negotiations with the Catalan club, with whim ‘the contacts are permanent’.
The current agreement is that Manaj will join Watford on a free transfer, but Barcelona will hold a percentage on any future sale. It is the amount that percentage will be that is currently ‘being discussed’.
