From Ismaila Sarr to Cucho Hernandez to Emmanuel Dennis to Ken Sema, Watford have no shortage of options on the wings. However, as both Cucho and Dennis can be seen as starting central options and Sarr (and potentially Dennis) will miss time at the start of 2022 due to AFCON, room for another winger at Watford, although not necessary, still exists.
Watford Linked With Levi Garcia
As previously covered on Watford Opinions, the Hornets are linked with a move for Levi Garcia, a winger Vladimir Ivic once called “the best player in Israel.” Now on AEK Athens, the 23-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago has impressed with his pacey raw talent and flair turning into goal contributions.
A move for the winger is not the most likely considering the Hornets’ current wide choices and the fact Philip Zinckernagel can be recalled from his Nottingham Forest loan in January when Sarr departs for AFCON. Still, considering Garcia’s talent and tremendous potential to further improve, it is hard to look away from the whispers about the talented attacker.
AEK Athens are in a tough situation when it comes to naming the right price for Garcia as Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem will receive 40% of his next transfer fee. Watford’s initial offer was thought to be around £4 million for Garcia, falling into the category of a “we are interested if you are willing to negotiate” offer. The Greek side could be seeking up to two or three times that sum for his signature, especially considering the hefty cut Beitar Jerusalem will take.
Injury Casts Doubt Over Summer Departure
The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian explains how a summer transfer for Garcia is now thrown into doubt following a meniscus injury that could keep him out for up to one month. With Wolfsburg also vying for his services, a move to a “Top Five league” was certainly in the cards for Garcia.
Transferring in injured players can be a risky game, especially when it comes to injuries such as a meniscus tear. Medicals often involve a cardio component, and with deadline day in less than two weeks, there is a considerable chance Garcia would not be fit enough to complete the cardio portion of his medical when resting and less-intense exercises are the calling for repairing the tear. Teams could technically exempt him from certain parts of their respective medical procedures to push the deal through, but that is far from optimal.
Watford, Wolfsburg, and other interested clubs still have time to make a swoop for his signature in this transfer window, though the injury complicates any potential move. His suitors, if no transfer materializes this month, will for sure be keeping a close eye on his progression throughout the first half of the campaign before reconsidering opening transfer talks in January.
The versatile attacker, who has primarily played as a left-winger in his career but mainly lined up as a right-winger for the Greek side last campaign, could be brought in by Watford to provide Zinckernagel competition for who Sarr’s successor should be.
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