Watford are prioritising the signing of two centre-backs before their Championship opener against Southampton next weekend, according to sporting director Luke Dowling.
Why does Watford need defensive reinforcements?
The Hornets currently have just two senior centre-backs in their squad, with Dowling acknowledging the urgency to bolster the position. While youngsters Travis Akomeah and James Clarridge could remain in the first-team picture, Dowling is targeting two new additions by the end of August to avoid waiting until the transfer deadline.
Who could Watford sign?
Previous loanees Max Alleyne and Stephen Mfuni remain on Watford’s radar, but Dowling admits Manchester City may retain Mfuni following Nathan Aké’s departure. The club is also in talks with other options, with Dowling stressing the need for at least one centre-back to arrive before the season starts on 10 August 2026.
Dowling said: We recognise we need to add players to the centre-half position, which we're in the process of trying to do. We are addressing it and hopefully we'll see one or two in that particular position very soon.
What’s the latest on striker recruitment?
Dowling also confirmed Watford are looking to sign a striker, ideally before the Southampton game. He added: I'd like us to have a couple in before Southampton. We don't want to get to the end of the month for the centre-back position.
The club are exploring both permanent and loan deals, with Dowling noting Championship sides often utilise the loan market effectively. However, he cautioned that Watford cannot rely solely on late decisions from Premier League clubs like Manchester City.
