Watford FC set for transfer hijack with £1.5m deal agreed for South American defender | OneFootball

Watford are eyeing a transfer hijack with a deal of £1.5 million agreed for one of three transfer targets in January's window.

Watford are closing in on new signings, with Javi Gracia's side yet to add to their squad so far in January, and there are three areas the Hornets are targeting this month.

The Hornets have emerged as surprise Championship promotion contenders this season after a few years in the second tier wilderness, and owner Gino Pozzo is looking to back his head coach with some fresh faces for the final few months of the season.

This young and exciting side has just three players over the age of 28, with the vast majority of the squad aged between 21 and 25. The core have grown as the season has developed, which is showing on the pitch.

Cesar Inga one of three players on Watford's transfer shortlist

Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph revealed that Italian midfielder Edoardo Bove is one of three players they want to bring in, with a left-back and a centre-back also on their transfer shortlist this month.

Max Alleyne has been recalled by Man City and James Morris is the only competition to the impressive Marc Bola as a left-sided full-back. It appears they have their left-back target in their sights now, too.

As per Peruvian publication RPP, Sporting Kansas City had submitted an offer to sign 23-year-old Cesar Inga, but his club Universitario is negotiating with a club in England for the transfer - the club believed to be hijacking the transfer is Watford.

Universitario de Deportes initially rejected an offer that arrived for him from the United States a few days ago. However, in a transfer twist, Watford have now arrived, with a £1.5 million bid for the international defender being deemed acceptable.

What Watford fans can expect from Cesar Inga's player profile

It's fair to say Inga is an interesting player. The left-back primarily operates in that role or as a left-sided wing-back, but he has also been deployed as a central defender on occasion or down the right flank.

The 23-year-old is 5'10" and has four caps for his country, but he has never played professionally at club level outside of the Peruvian leagues.

The Championship will certainly be a step up for him, should the move to Watford materialise, but they're in need of a defender on that side of the pitch, given Caleb Wiley returned to Chelsea after fitness struggles for the American.

It just shows once more though that Watford and their scouting system are prepared to think outside the box when it comes to recruitment. The Pozzo's scouting network is worldwide, as evidenced when Mamadou Doumbia signed from Mali as a teenager on a six-year deal in 2024, and Inga could be potentially the latest lesser-known gem to arrive at Vicarage Road.