With the English summer transfer window now shut, we thought we would take a moment to evaluate Watford’s activity in the market. It was a fairly busy period for the Hornets who have a distinctly changed squad compared to the one that finished last season.
Having seen Watford win their first five games of the campaign (before having their run halted by Sheffield United), the assumption is that it was a good window for the Hornets. While there is some truth in that, will the new recruits help ensure the good times keep on coming to Vicarage Road?
Financial Picture
Depending on where your priorities lie, financially this transfer window can be seen as either very positive or a bit disappointing. From an accounting perspective, Watford had a stormer as they sold Yaser Asprilla in a deal that was reportedly worth around €24m (£20m), including add-ons. In addition to this, they offloaded Ismael Kone to Marseille for another hefty sum in the region of £15m. These two deals alone produced more money than most Championship teams generated during the entire window.
Watford also must have received some transfer fee from Al-Shabab for Wesley Hoedt but there has been no mention of what the figure was. Even ignoring the reality of this undisclosed fee though, Watford raised at least £35m in player sales and only spent in the region of £3m on incoming transfer fees. Most of their deals saw them recruit players on a free transfer or a season-long loan.
The club only had to pay a transfer fee for three players, Pierre Dwomoh (£800k), Kevin Keven (£850k – estimated), and Kayky Almeida (£850k). There was also a £237,000 training compensation fee owed to Celtic for 19-year-old Rocco Vata. Loan deals may also incur a fee and for free transfers, signing-on fees are fairly customary but even so, Watford spent much, much less than they brought in during the window.
The lack of investment may be slightly frustrating as one of the Pozzo family’s other clubs, Udinese, spent virtually as much as they generated. Still, a frugal transfer window does not mean a bad one, much as an expensive one does not guarantee improvements. So, let’s see if Watford have been craftily savvy, or if their stinginess will unravel as the season goes on.
The Positives
The good news is that despite not spending much, Watford have strengthened in the areas they needed to. There is now more squad depth within the Hornets’ ranks than has typically been the case in recent years. With the Championship being a long and gruelling division, having this extra depth could avoid the kind of tail-off that Watford suffered last season (they secured just two wins in the final 13 league games).
While some of the recruitment has been mainly to add depth, Watford have also bolstered their starting XI. The return of Moussa Sissoko, following his departure for Nantes, is seen as something of a coup for the club. Not only a popular dressing-room figure, he still has quite the engine on him despite recently celebrating his 35th birthday. Yasser Larouci has also shown some initial promise, partly thanks to his pace and aggression, and looks like he could cement the starting spot at left-back.
Angelo Ogbonna is yet to make his Watford debut, having signed late on in the window, but the Italian is someone who could well enjoy a lot of minutes this season. Although it is not unfair to say he is past his prime, based on his performances for West Ham last year, he should still be able to do a solid job in the Championship. If nothing else the former Italian international brings a wealth of experience from his extended stints in Serie A and the Premier League.
Elsewhere, Daniel Jebbison will be looking to stake a claim to be Watford’s number one striking option. The Canadian faces competition from Vakoun Bayo, who isn’t new to Vicarage Road, but has extended his stay, on loan, having signed for Udinese in the summer. As well as this you have the 22-year-old Festy Ebosele who could well end up being a regular fixture having played in 31 Serie A matches for Udinese last year. So, not only have the Hertfordshire outfit got additional depth, but they have new players that can improve the starting team as well.
The Negatives
Although the departures of Asprilla and Kone were fully expected, and the club managed to get good fees for both, they are still both a significant loss. Between them the pair featured in 86 Championship fixtures last season and were generally among the better performers in the squad. That said, a bigger loss for the Hornets is probably that of Hoedt, who was even more consistent, a truly reliable figure in the heart of the defence.
Speaking in mid-August, Cleverley said he did not expect the former club captain to depart but sure enough, the Dutchman made his way to Saudi Arabia. Given the towering defender was voted Watford’s Player of the Season last year, he is going to be an extremely tough man to replace. You have to imagine Hoedt was pushing for the move, and the undoubtedly large salary that came with it, but it is a shame Watford could not retain his services for another season.
If you had to point out another disappointment of the window, it would be that Watford do not have a striker in the squad who looks like being an obvious source of consistent goals. Last year’s top scorer, Mileta Rajovic, managed a modest 10 Championship strikes, so there was hope among fans that the club would pick up someone more deadly. Instead, they have negotiated a new deal for Bayo, who netted six league goals last campaign and picked up Jebbison on loan.
Jebbison is still young and should improve but he does have a lack of competitive minutes under his belt, and a subsequent lack of goals. He managed seven goals in League One playing for Burton Albion in 2021/22 but in the Championship he only has one goal to his name. Perhaps he can enjoy an extended run of games at Vicarage Road and start banging the goals in but he is far from a safe bet. It seems more likely that Watford’s strikers may struggle once again and require significant contributions from the midfield/defence.
Strengthened Key Areas
If we had to rate Watford’s transfer window we would give it a 7 out of 10. The club spent little despite making a hefty sum but they have strengthened the side in key areas and added a few players of known quality, in particular Sissoko. They perhaps remain a little light in central midfield though and there are real questions if there is anyone in the side capable of scoring 15+ league goals. Tom Cleverley can weigh up the situation over the coming weeks though and hopefully have some of the summer gains to spend in January if required.