Watford FC backed over surprise transfer agreement for 25-year-old - it's "the right move" | OneFootball

FLW Fan Pundit Justin believes that Watford are right to have sanctioned the loan departure of Tom Dele-Bashiru, who has joined Genclerbirligi.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Watford have started the 2025/26 Championship season in quite poor fashion, with the Hornets having managed just one victory from their opening five matches of the campaign.

A slender 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Vicarage Road this past weekend has perhaps dialled up the pressure on Uruguayan coach Paulo Pezzolano, formerly of Real Valladolid, who was appointed in the summer to replace Tom Cleverley

Watford have built a squad of some exciting young talents but, with as has perhaps always been the case throughout the Pozzo era, they have also found themselves in a position with quite a few players that can be deemed surplus to requirements.

That has been the case for former Manchester City man Tom Dele-Bashiru, who has been allowed to leave the club, and it is a decision that our FLW Fan Pundit believes to be the right one.

Tom Dele-Bashiru has left Watford for Turkey on loan

Having played just four minutes of Championship football so far this season, Watford have sanctioned the departure of Tom Dele-Bashiru, who has made over 80 appearances for the club.

The 25-year-old central midfielder, a former Reading loanee, has moved to Turkish Super Lig outfit Genclerbirligi on an initial temporary basis, and it is a move that FLW’s Watford Fan Pundit Justin Beattie believes is a good one.

“With regards to Tom Dele-Bashiru being loaned out to a Turkish side for the rest of the season, this is the right move for him, I think," Justin told FLW.

“He’s never really established himself as a first-choice starter in every game, and what with the business we have done in the transfer window over the summer, I don’t really see that position changing.

“I think if he wants to get some consistent game-time and a run out more often than he’s getting, then he definitely needs to go to another club, and this is probably the right place for him to go.

“With regards to should we have tried to sell him this summer, I think we probably should have our ducks in order before we did that, so this is probably the right move at this time.”

Watford and Paulo Pezzolano need to find some cohesion in midfield after poor Championship start

Watford have been playing a back-three system in the opening month or so of the campaign, with the shape of the midfield changing a fair bit, but the right balance yet to be found.

Ageing midfielder Moussa Sissoko has been partnered alongside defensive midfielder Hector Kyprianou, who joined from Peterborough United over the summer, and there is a feeling that pairing does lack the energy that would be desired for Championship football.

Dele-Bashiru is someone who would seemingly bring those attributes, but the club have instead deemed him to be someone who could be moved on, albeit they do not have a plethora of options in the middle of the park.

Edo Kayembe remains in the squad, and Rocco Vata has been playing in a more central attacking midfield role, but there is certainly perhaps a lack of depth. Pierre Dwomoh has missed the start of this season through injury, whilst Imran Louza was absent from the defeat to Blackburn due to suspension.

Dele-Bashiru, as Justin outlines, may be wanting more regular minutes than he is due to get at Watford, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the club somewhat regretting leaving themselves exposed in his position.