Why Watford have struck gold with the signing of Glenn Murray
According to the Watford Observer, Watford have confirmed the signing of veteran striker Glenn Murray on a season-long loan deal from Brighton and Hove Albion. The 36-year-old was unveiled as a Hornets player earlier in the week after successfully completing a medical at Vicarage Road. (h/t Watford Observer)
Murray fell out of favour under Graham Potter last season after scoring 25 Premier League goals for the Seagulls over the course of the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns. The England striker started just 7 times in the league last term, netting twice in 24 appearances across all competition.
The veteran has now joined the newly-relegated club on loan in search of regular game time in the upcoming campaign, with Vladimir Ivic’s side expected to challenge for promotion in the Championship.
Murray has become the second new signing to come through the door at Hertfordshire this summer after young right-back Jeremy Ngakia joined the ranks from West Ham.
Murray would add a lot of experience to Watford’s ranks
Meanwhile, Watford currently find themselves in an almighty mess following their relegation from the Premier League last term by the narrowest of margins. The Hornets have several high-profile players, especially in their attack, and the club’s loss of top-flight status has raised question marks over their futures.
Captain Troy Deeney has been linked with moves to Tottenham and West Brom while Ismaila Sarr, who was one of the standout performers in Watford’s calamitous campaign last term, has emerged as a target for Liverpool. Danny Welbeck has also been linked with a move away from the club.
To put things into perspective, Watford need to plan a reshuffle of their squad this summer and the acquisition of a seasoned campaigner like Glenn Murray is a sure indication that the Hornets have already started off with the rebuilding job.
The 36-year-old boasts of a bagful of experience playing across all four professional divisions in English football, having featured for seven different clubs over the course of his illustrious career.
Murray previously scored 67 goals in 143 career appearances for Crystal Palace, Reading and Brighton in the Championship, guiding the latter to promotion during the 2016-17 campaign.
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Verdict
Regardless of what the future holds for Deeney, Watford can definitely expect Murray to play a big role in their bid for promotion in the Championship next term. The veteran struggled to make an impact in the Premier League last season but a drop-down in level should help him prolong his professional career.
It will be interesting to see how Watford go about their rebuilding job under new manager Ivic. The arrival of Brighton’s promotion hero Glenn Murray can be regarded as a smart move by the Hornets.
