"Would be upsetting" - Claim made on Wesley Hoedt's future at Watford FC | OneFootball

Wesley Hoedt has one year left on his current deal at Vicarage Road

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 are preparing for the first full season of the Tom Cleverley era at Vicarage Road, after the recently-retired midfielder impressed the hierarchy at the back end of last season.

A lack of stability in Hertfordshire has been well-documented ever since the Pozzo family took control of the club, with a countless number of managers coming and going in that time frame, which has seen a mass amount of player turnover occur as a result.

Supporters will be hoping the Italian owners have finally learned from their mistakes and that Cleverley receives the ample backing required, so the Hornets can recover from their lowest league position since 2010 and become a competitive force in the second tier once again.

Verdict given on Wesley Hoedt's future at Vicarage Road

Despite the Hornets' overall struggle to find consistency since being relegated from the Premier League in 2022, Dutch defender Wesley Hoedt has been one of the club's most admirable performers since returning to English football.

The former Southampton man currently has just one season left on his current contract, which he put pen to paper on back in January 2023 as part of a deal with Anderlecht which could reportedly rise up to the maximum value of £800,000.

One man who's been left hugely impressed by the 30-year-old is Football League World's Watford FC fan pundit, Justin Beattie, who has urged the club to arrange new contract talks with the experienced defender.

"Wesley Hoedt was our Player of the Season last season," Beattie began. "He was ever-present bar a couple of matches towards the end of it."

"I think most Watford fans would consider Wesley Hoedt as a good signing and servant to the club since his arrival," he added.

"I think, as long as he's happy to stay at Watford, the supporters would be happy to see him stay. I don't think there's anybody who wants to see Hoedt moved on. He's a decent centre-half and I think, to see him leave, would be upsetting to a lot of fans," Beattie continued.

"Let's hope a new deal can be sorted for Wesley and that he stays," he stated.

"If he was to be sold, I wouldn't know what cash value to put on him to be honest," our fan pundit declared. "I think he's one of our highest valued assets, but I wouldn't know how much he'd be worth."

Based off Sofascore ratings, it's no surprise that Hoedt scooped home the club's 'Graham Taylor Player of the Season' award on April 27th for a campaign which he also ended with a flourish - recording 8.1 and 8.2 average ratings against Sunderland and Middlesbrough respectively.

His stunning season was also epitomised by his spectacular strike in a 2-1 away success over Hull City, lobbing Tigers keeper Ryan Allsop from the most extraordinary of distances.

The centre-back was a mainstay under Valerien Ismael and Cleverley alongside Scottish defender Ryan Porteous, and if Watford's attacking outlets alongside the defence can continue a similar vein of form which was showcased throughout the latter stages of the 2023/24 season, then a play-off charge could be on at Vicarage Road.

Hoedt's breadth of experience would also be vital in a long season under a youthful boss, having already formed an impressive spine of the Hornets side alongside goalkeeper and captain, Daniel Bachmann.

Perhaps the wisest approach the club could take is to see if Hoedt's form is replicated at the beginning of this season before committing to a new contract, given his age and estimated £20,000 per week salary