A Missed Opportunity: Watford’s January Transfer Window Review

For a side chasing promotion back to the Premier League, the January transfer window is a crucial stage in the season for a club to reassess their squad, shift the deadwood and bring in some new exciting players.

Watford have had a busy window, signing three new players, whilst permanently getting rid of four and loaning out one other. Let’s examine and rate each deal done:

IN – Philip Zinckernagel from FK Bodo/Glimt (Free)

Zinckernagel ended 2020 with 22 goals and 24 assists for his club, as well as being named Player of the Season in the Norwegian Eliteserien, making him the sixth most decisive player in the world for the year.

A right-winger by trade, Watford fans have already seen the Danish international play across the whole of midfield, having started as a left-winger on his debut away at Manchester United in the FA Cup. 

In Watford’s recent home defeat to QPR, Zinckernagel came on in the 83rd minute to play in the centre of midfield alongside Tom Cleverly, a decision that many fans lamented manager Xisco Munoz for, as they believe Zinckernagel is best on the right of midfield.

Watford have acquired a player with great potential who has the ability to change games with a moment of magic, but until he gets regular game time in his preferred position his development will be hindered.

RATING: 9/10  – This is a shrewd bit of business and Zinckernagel has potential to take England by storm.

IN – Dan Gosling from Bournemouth (Undisclosed Fee)

Watford have opted for long-time Bournemouth servant Dan Gosling to help bolster the centre of midfield after Etienne Capoue’s departure.

The 30-year-old was part of Bournemouth’s Championship-winning squad in 2014/15 and has made over 300 appearances during his playing career, of which 184 were in the Premier League.

The signing seems to be a potentially sensible and shrewd acquisition that’s let down by the two and a half year contract length, as well as the other outgoings and lack of incomings.

Gosling will not feature for at least a week due to a lack of game time at Bournemouth affecting his fitness levels.

RATING: 4/10 – Nowhere near Capoue’s previous level in midfield, will most likely be a backup to current options.

IN – Rob Elliot (Free Agent)

This was a simple back-up deal, with Ben Foster out with a finger injury and young goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann starting in goal, leaving under-23 goalkeeper Adam Parkes on the bench.

Elliot is a solid keeper, having spent time at Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United and will replace Parkes on the bench until Ben Foster returns from injury.

RATING: 8/10 – A simple, no-nonsense deal to fix a short-term issue.

OUT – Étienne Capoue to Villarreal (Undisclosed Fee)

This was a move that was expected by Watford fans, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have a huge negative impact on the fanbase and club.

Capoue was arguably Watford’s best player during their five-year stint in the Premier League, known for his exceptional passing, work rate and defensive ability.

The 32-year-old joined the Hornets in 2015 for a club-record fee (at the time) of £6.3 million and made 181 appearances, scoring 14 goals and winning the 2018/19 Player of the Season award.

Former Watford boss Javi Gracia was keen on signing Capoue in the summer to Valencia, but a lack of funding meant that the deal didn’t go ahead, with the Frenchman instead opting for Unai Emery’s Villarreal as his next destination.

Watford would have had to let Capoue go as they needed to lower their wage bill to adjust to their Championship budget, so this move was inevitable in some ways. However, the loss of such a top-quality player has left a gap in central midfield that now relies on players like Nathaniel Chalobah and Tom Cleverly to step up.

RATING: 5/10 – An understandable move financially, but it doesn’t benefit the squad or Watford’s promotion hopes.

OUT – Gerard Deulofeu to Udinese (Undisclosed Fee)

Similar to the Capoue deal, but still heartbreaking for Hornets fans to see such a talented player leave the club. Deulofeu was sent on loan to Udinese in the summer, with the move being made permanent this January, with the club unable to support his large wages after relegation last season.

It’s interesting to note that the Pozzo family, who own Watford, also own Udinese and have utilised loans and transfers between the two clubs since they saved Watford from administration in 2012, so there may be a return to Vicarage Road on the cards for the Spaniard if the club returns to the Premier League.

If this is the end of Deulofeu at Watford, he will be remembered as one of the best players of the modern era at the club, having made 70 appearances, scoring 17 goals, including the first Premier League hat-trick for a Watford player. 

Standout moments include stunning solo efforts against Huddersfield & Cardiff, his goal in the 4-1 win against Chelsea and the way he turned around Watford’s 2019 FA Cup semi-final against Wolves with a superb, Messi-esque chip and a counter-attacking winner in extra time that cemented his place in Watford folklore.

RATING: 6/10 – Again this is a huge loss for Watford, but the potential of a return will be interesting to keep an eye on.

OUT – Domingos Quina to Granada (Loan)

Quina has been out with a hamstring injury since mid-December, and fans were looking forward to seeing his return to the squad, so this move is an odd decision in some fans’ eyes.

The Portuguese youngster has been creative in midfield, showing his potential in 37 appearances for the club, scoring three goals. 

Granada CF is also owned by the Pozzo’s and Quina has been sent there to get some more game time under his belt, a move that stumped some fans who wanted to see him return to the Watford team, not Granada. 

RATING: 2/10 – A confusing move, especially with Watford fans crying out for creativity in midfield.

OUT – James Garner & Glenn Murray (Loans Terminated)

Both Garner and Murray have had their season-long loans cut short and both have gone to Nottingham Forest from Manchester United and Brighton respectively.

Garner made 20 appearances for the Hornets but was frustrated by a lack of game time under new boss Xisco Munoz, after being favoured by ex-Head Coach Vladimir Ivic.

During Watford 2-1 away win at Stoke in January, Garner was due to come off the bench, but having just conceded, Munoz opted to bring on defender Ben Wilmot instead. 

This led to Garner walking back up to his seat and angrily throwing his shirt after taking it off- an action that was picked up by the TV cameras.

Murray failed to make an impact at Watford, featuring in only six games for Watford, scoring no goals and giving away a penalty. He was recalled by Brighton due to a significant lack of game time.

RATINGS: Garner 5/10 – There didn’t seem to be a need to get rid of him halfway through the season, especially after Capoue’s departure.

Murray 5/10 – A nothing move, as Murray made little impact so will not be missed.

Overall, Watford seem to have not made the most of opportunities to strengthen the squad in the necessary areas.

The signing of Philip Zinckernagel is the one positive for Watford fans to take into the second half of the season, but a failure to properly replace Etienne Capoue and a continued lack of creativity in midfield is a worry for the Hornets going forward.

FINAL RATING: 5/10

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