Watford are planning to further strengthen their unexpected push for European football by signing Roma winger Juan Iturbe on loan until the end of the season.
Iturbe is expected to make the move to the high-fliying Hornets next year
It is understood that Iturbe has arrived in London for talks ahead of a deal that would include a permanent option and could be confirmed as soon as the transfer window opens next week. Roma signed Iturbe for £16 million from Verona last year but his impact in Serie A has since been limited and Watford are negotiating a deal that would include an initial loan fee of around £1 million and then a potential permanent transfer at the end of the season for a further £11 million.
Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores wants to make signings next month in the knowledge that the squad depth will face a more severe test in the second half of the season, and is confident that his star players, notably Odion Ighalo, will not leave.
Quique Sánchez Flores (left) and Odion Ighalo celebrate their win at the weekend Photo: GETTY IMAGES
It will be hoped that Iturbe, who is 22 and eligible for Argentina after previously having played one friendly game for Paraguay, can help spread the attacking threat of a team that has relied heavily on Ighalo and Troy Deeney. Iturbe, who can play either as a winger or a central striker, began his career at the Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño before arriving in Serie A at Verona via Porto and River Plate.
Watford are only a point outside of the Champions League places following Sunday’s 3-0 win against Liverpool but Ighalo, who has now scored 12 goals this season and 28 in 2015, is adamant that surviving in the Premier League remains the club’s priority. “We’re not safe yet,” said Ighalo. “We have only 28 points and our main aim is to battle against relegation. If we reach 40 points, we thank God for anything that comes after that. We can’t think too much about being one point off the Champions League places because our first target is to collect 12 more points to preserve our Premier League status.”
Harry the Hornet (right) will have to watch Watford's next game on TV Photo: TWITTER (@iAmBolar)
Watford will be going for their fifth straight league win when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in Guus Hiddink’s first match of his second spell as manager.
“It’s going to be a massive game”, said Ighalo. “They will want to impress the new manager. It won’t be easy for us, but it won’t be easy for them. This result against Liverpool may make top teams respect us more and not just treat us as a promoted side who are not going to be around the Premier League for long. Some people may have been surprised, but when I walk out with this team every week, and we work hard for each other, run together and fight for every ball, I’m not surprised any more.”
Ighalo is “surprised”, however, that his so-called ‘Scoop’ turn has become sufficiently popular among Watford supporters to now have its own Twitter handle (@IghaloScoop).
You playing twister @mamadousakho3 ? #Scoop #watfordfc @ighalojude https://t.co/IZ1wPzJwIP
— Ighalo Scoop (@IghaloScoop) December 20, 2015
“The fans are crazy about something like that,” said Ighalo. “I just try to play my game and do it when it’s possible – it’s not something I resolve to do in every game. If there is space to execute it, sometimes I get lucky and sometimes it doesn’t work, but it’s become a part of my game.”
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