Walter Mazzarri in advanced talks to succeed Quique Sanchez Flores at Watford

Walter Mazzarri was at the club’s training ground yesterday and is on the verge of being named as the successor to Quique Sanchez Flores, WD Sport understands.

A well-placed club source told us the Italian, 54, was at the UCL facility in Bell Lane, London Colney yesterday and met owner Gino Pozzo and chief executive Scott Duxbury. The players and staff were given the day off following the game against Norwich City but we understand Troy Deeney was present. The decision to publicly announce this morning that Sanchez Flores, as we exclusively revealed, will be leaving is likely to have been made as a result of positive talks with Mazzarri.

Mazzarri has an impressive CV, coaching Italian giants Sampdoria, Napoli and Inter Milan but he has not coached since being fired by Inter in November 2014. Both Miguel Britos and Valon Behrami have worked under him at Napoli.

“Mazzarri was at Napoli and then moved to Inter Milan and then his job was lost to Roberto Mancini,” Ray Wilkins, the former AC Milan player and good friend of Gianluca Vialli, told Sky Sports News. “He’s thought of in high esteem in Italy. If you are a coach of those two sides then you do have some quality, there are no two ways about that. I spoke with a dear friend of mine in Italy and it’s touted that he [Mazzarri] will be coming.”