Britos set to join Pozzo empire

With Miguel Britos seemingly bound for Watford, Troy Deeney admits he does not pay too much attention to the flurry of players linked with a move to Vicarage Road.

The Hornets have been associated with more than 70 players since they achieved promotion to the Premier League but have signed only seven so far. That number is expected to reach double figures with Steven Berghuis, Lex Immers and Jose Manuel Jurado all in various stages of talks with the club. Gino Pozzo is also thought to be keen on signing an out-and-out striker to provide cover and competition for Deeney. The owner has been put off by Blackburn Rovers’ valuation of Rudy Gestede.

Deeney, however, does not get caught up in the rumour mill and instead waits for the new signing to walk through the doors at the London Colney training ground.

“The internet hasn’t been the grestest [in Germany] so I haven’t been on Twitter [to see what’s happening],” said the captain after yesterday’s game. “We’ll just wait and see who comes in. We’ve been linked with Stambouli for a month and half and nothing has happened. When the lads come through the door that’s when we’ll start thinking about names and their quality.”

Yet one deal that seems near to completion is that of Britos, the Uruguayan defender. The centre-half, who cost Napoli €9million from Bologna four years ago, missed training today, fuelling speculation he is about to join Watford, via Udinese, as their ninth summer signing. Britos, who turned 30 on Friday, is a makeweight in the deal, along with Duvan Zapata, that will take Allan from Udinese to Napoli.

Miguel Britos has left the #Napoli camp ahead of his move to @WatfordFC. — ItalianFootballDaily (@ItalianFD) July 20, 2015

Britos is expected in England shortly to complete the first part of his medical in Harley Street before undergoing further tests at the club’s training ground. He would take the number of senior centre-halves at the club to five, meaning Essaid Belkelem is likely to be farmed out on loan again or sold. It looks, on the face of it, a straight shoot-out between Craig Cathcart and Britos as to who will partner Sebastian Prodl on the opening day against Everton.

Britos may have to curb his aggression in the Premier League. He was booked nine times last season, including five times in a run of nine matches, and was sent off against Juventus for headbutting in his last game for Napoli.

Uncapped by his country, he also played the 90 minutes of both games against Udinese, the Italian arm of the Pozzos’ football club portfolio. The imminent arrival of Uruguayan defender at Vicarage Road is polarising opinion among Watford fans. Some are excited about the prospect of seeing Britos reunited with former Napoli teammate Valon Behrami.

If we manage to add Jurado, Berghuis, Britos and a striker then i think this transfer window goes down as @WatfordFC greatest ever! — Chris Bottom (@ChrisBottom16) July 19, 2015

One Napoli fan wishes him well.

In all seriousness. Good luck to Britos. Never got going after breaking his toe. — PartenopeiPaul (@NapoliBlogger) July 20, 2015

One fellow Napoletano has mixed feelings.

You gave me so many anger rages but good luck at @WatfordFC #Britos — Darren Insigne (@SSCNapoliCurvaA) July 20, 2015

While a Watford supporter is not convinced he is the man to keep Aguero, Costa and Kane in check.

Can britos change his mind last minute and not come, I don't want him — x (@strxtfordsgift) July 20, 2015

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