Watford close in on loan agreement for 22-goal striker - Hornets are waiting on Serie A deal | OneFootball

Watford FC are closing in on a deal to sign Danish youth international Luca Kjerrumgaard.

Watford FC are closing in on a deal to sign Danish youth international Luca Kjerrumgaard on a season-long loan.

It's the start of a new era at Vicarage Road this summer.

Paulo Pezzolano is leading the club into his first transfer window as Hornets boss, ahead of what is hoped will see the club return to Championship play-off contention next season.

No less than six new players have already signed for the club this summer, with teenage winger Othmane Maamma the latest to join Pezzolano's squad.

Watford close to signing Luca Kjerrumgaard

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has revealed via his X account on Saturday that Udinese are close to agreeing a deal to sign Odense SK striker, Luca Kjerrumgaard.

He added that the Italian side would then loan the 22-year-old to Watford for the upcoming season, before an intended permanent transfer to England next summer.

Udinese and Watford share an owner in the form of Gino Pozzo, with the agreement seemingly in place to bring Kjerrumgaard through one team to the other.

The striker won the golden boot for OB in Denmark's second-tier last season, as he helped lead the club to promotion to the Danish top flight.

In his career to date, he has found the back of the net 26 times and added seven assists for the Danish outfit, with 19 further goals for Odense's under-19s team.

Aside from a 13-goal loan spell with Norway's Stabæk in 2023, Kjerrumgaard has remained in his homeland.

The Danish youth international comes to correct AFC Bournemouth deal mistake

The Watford Observer have reported that the Hornets have been in the market for a new striker throughout the summer transfer window.

Kjerrumgaard has been identified as the club's top target, with his stellar season in the Danish second division setting the scene for a move to a more high-profile league.

Watford had faced "stiff competition" to land Kjerrumgaard from OB, according to the newspaper report, and are now at an advanced stage in negotiations.

The forward was targeted during an "exhaustive search", as the Hornets are said to be keen to secure the right signing after the loan move for AFC Bournemouth's Daniel Jebbison did not provide the intended rewards last season.

The Canadian, who has now joined Preston North End on loan for the upcoming season, failed to register a single goal for Watford during 13 games for the club. It was part of a third successive finish outside of the Sky Bet Championship top ten for the club.

Kjerrumgaard, who stands at 6' 2", is seen as the final piece of the attacking puzzle for Watford, as they mount a challenge under promotion specialist boss Pezzolano.

The Hornets have already brought in 20-year-old striker Vivaldo Semedo from Udinese, while Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Nathan Baxter and Peterborough United midfielder Hector Kyprianou are among the other new recruits at Vicarage Road.

If Kjerrumgaard can emulate his recent goalscoring record in the Championship, should the three-team deal be finalised, then the striker will surely boost the Watford ranks and help them push up the table after a 14th-placed finish last term.