Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Watford striker Stefano Okaka's immediate future is not clear, with head coach Javi Gracia admitting he's still exploring the possibility of leaving Vicarage Road.

The Italian was expected to depart on deadline day, with Galatasaray, Malaga and Fulham all linked with loan moves.

None of them materialised, however, and he remained a Watford player at the 11pm deadline, and looked set to spend the rest of the season in Hertfordshire.

But Gracia's response when asked if he was worried how Okaka might react to remaining at Watford opened up a whole new range of possiblities.

Gracia said: "Stefano Okaka, for me, is a very good person and a good player. I don't know the situation - it doesn't depend on me.

"I'm waiting to see what will happen with Okaka. I don't know if he'll move or stay. I don't know.

"We'll see what happens. I think he's looking for other clubs. That's all I can say, nothing else."

Although the window is now shut in Europe's top leagues, there are countries where transfers are still permitted.

That is because it is before the season begins, in places such as Brazil, Japan, Sweden and Norway, or in some Eastern European countries - Russia, Bulgaria, Romania - the window only opens in late January and does not shut for another three or four weeks.

Okaka could follow the same route as Ben Watson and seek to be released from his contract, but with more than three years left on his deal that seems unlikely.

He was included in the 25-man Premier League squad earlier today, however, that does not mean he has to stay.

Nordin Amrabat was named in the squad back in September, only to move to Leganes and be replaced by Mauro Zarate.