Watford should offload Younes Kaboul and Stefano Okaka in January
Watford started their Premier League campaign with a bang, winning each of their first four games but the Hornets haven’t been able to keep up that momentum.
Javi Gracia’s men got themselves back into the top ten with a 3-2 win over Cardiff City in the Premier League this week. However, something that must be noted here is that Watford have managed to win only 3 of their last 13 games in the top flight, a telling difference as compared to their displays in the opening stages of the season.
One of the keys behind Watford’s early-season success was the consistency in Javi Gracia’s team selection. He pretty much fielded the same line-up for the first five or six games but was forced to ring the changes thereafter as injuries and suspensions crept in.
Watford need some new faces in January to help them regain their lost momentum and here are 2 players that they should offload to make way for new arrivals.
1. Stefano Okaka
He is perhaps the most obvious inclusion in the list. The 29-year-old former AS Roma star has managed only a couple of substitute appearances in the Premier League, playing a ridiculously low 22 minutes of football.
Watford relied upon the likes of Troy Deeney and Andre Gray for the goals earlier in the season. Gerard Deulofeu’s comeback from injury and Isaac Success’s impressive run of form has forced both Gray and Deeney to start from the bench in recent weeks. On the other hand, Roberto Pereyra has excelled in the role of a playmaker, probing away at the opposition and working those pockets of spaces with his crisp passing and subtle movement.
Suffice to say, the 29-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at Vicarage Road and it is high time for him to seek greener pastures to resurrect his career. He has been linked with a move to Fulham (h/t Sky Sports) and Watford should not hesitate to offload him if they receive a substantial offer.
2. Younes Kaboul
The former Tottenham and Portsmouth star has constantly found himself on the sidelines and hasn’t got a look in from Javi Gracia. The 32-year-old made only 2 appearances in the Premier League for Watford last season but he hasn’t played any part whatsoever this term.
The Frenchman still has a lot to offer to any mid-table team or Championship outfit with his versatility to play at both centre-back and defensive midfield.
However, Watford are already well-stocked in both the departments and a move away from Vicarage Road should help the Frenchman rejuvenate his career that has come to a standstill.
