Watford FC set to beat Swansea City to Man City transfer agreement | OneFootball

Watford are poised to beat off competition from Swansea City for Manchester City defender Max Alleyne

Watford have seemingly beat off competition from Championship rivals Swansea City for the signing of Manchester City's Max Alleyne, with the highly-rated defender now poised to arrive at Vicarage Road on a season-long loan deal.

As revealed on Wednesday evening via X by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Alleyne is set to put pen to paper on a fresh contract with Pep Guardiola's side before completing his loan switch to Watford for the upcoming 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Watford have enjoyed a busy summer following last season's 14th-placed finish under Tom Cleverley, who was relieved of his duties and replaced with Uruguayan boss Paulo Pezzolano. The ex-Cruizeiro and Real Valladolid manager has welcomed a number of exciting incomings to his new side, with the likes of one-time Bayern Munich prodigy Nestory Irankunda, Luca Kjerrumgaard, Hector Kyprianou and Othmane Maamma all signing for the club in recent times.

There have, of course, been departures too, and bolstering the defensive line has been a notable priority following exits for Francisco Sierrelta and Ryan Porteous to Auxerre and Los Angeles FC respectively.

Watford FC to beat Swansea City to Man City's Max Alleyne

Now, Watford are closing in on the services of a player who will add quality and depth to the backline in the form of Alleyne, with a deal having been agreed with Man City as per Romano's aforementioned update.

It's said that the 20-year-old will be signing a new contract at City before completing his move to Watford.

The Hornets are not the only Championship club to have expressed admiration for Alleyne, with a recent report by The Athletic detailing interest from Swansea alongside unnamed European outfits. However, it is Watford who have won the race for his signature, it would seem.

Alleyne is yet to make his senior debut, but has appeared in matchday squads in both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League after rising through the youth ranks in the North West following his £1.5 million arrival from Southampton back in 2021, then aged just 15.

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The central defender is regarded as a promising talent, having won Man City's U21 Player of the Year at the end of the previous campaign, and he will now be looking to earn his stripes in the senior game down at Watford.

Max Alleyne, Man City deal could be a big one for Watford

Although Alleyne's lack of experience means that he will likely require time and patience as he acclimatises to the physical, ultra-intense rigors of life in the Championship, competing against seasoned centre-forwards willing to take no prisoners, you do get the impression that Watford are landing a player who could prove a seriously-big hit as the season goes on.

His pedigree speaks for itself, and while there are never any guarantees of that translating into senior football, it gives him a good chance and the fact that Man City are acting to get him tied down to a new contract before leaving on loan speaks volumes about his quality and the regard in which he's held in.

That should really excite Watford, who are signing an unknown quantity but one with clear promise and potential. As a graduate of City's academy, Alleyne will likely behold the ball-playing qualities in possession to help make Watford a more progressive and dominant outfit building out from the back, and it would be no surprise to see him become something of a star at Vicarage Road.