“There is no concrete budget” – Watford chief reveals Pozzo “wants to invest” in January, looking at specific transfers

Watford’s new technical director Ben Manga has insisted there is “no concrete budget” at the club but Gino Pozzo does have a transfer strategy in mind.

Manga was confirmed as the Hornet’s new technical director towards the end of last month, bringing an end to a six-and-a-half-year spell at Eintracht Frankfurt.

He initially joined the German side as Chief Scout in July 2016 and went on to become their Director of Professional Football in July 2021.

He built up a reputation as something of a bargain spotter in the Bundesliga, securing the likes of Tuta, Evan N’Dicka and Daichi Kamada as well as other players for low figures and developing them into key players worth considerably more.

It is presumably that which Watford are looking to replicate as they seek to return to the Premier League and establish themselves rather than be the yo-yo club they have been in recent years.

Manga confirms that is the case and says Watford boss Gino Pozzo has a transfer strategy in mind moving forwards.

“There is no concrete budget,” he told Kicker when asked about the January transfer window.

“Gino Pozzo wants to invest, but he doesn’t want to spend €18-20m on a new signing like other clubs.

“He wants things to be like they were in Frankfurt, where we brought in players like Tuta, Evan N’Dicka or Daichi Kamada for two, three, four, five million euros. Young, cheap and good – that’s our approach.”