Defender Kieran Gibbs claims he was all set to sign for Watford earlier this summer - only for his agent to reveal "something was not quite right" with the deal and call it off.

The 27-year-old ended up signing for West Bromwich Albion for a fee believed to be around £7 million, which could prove a bargain given the ex-Arsenal man's pedigree.

Gibbs' decision to choose the Baggies would prove to be the first of a number of targets the Hornets missed out on in the final week of the transfer window, which left head coach Marco Silva ranting about his disappointment in the press conference after it shut.

It's no surprise a change of scenery was part of the England man's decision to move north, with Arsenal and Watford's training grounds sitting side by side, but it was Gibbs' agent who first flagged began to pour cold water on the proposed deal at Vicarage Road.

“I think a fee had been agreed [with Watford],” Gibbs told the Birmingham Mail.

“Over the next couple of days, if there hadn’t been any issues, it looked likely I would have signed for them.

“I’m still not quite sure what really happened. My agent just came to me and said there were a few things not quite right.

“‘How do you feel about West Brom and Tony Pulis?’ he said. I was interested and just weighed up a few things with friends and family.

“I thought at the time that this move would be right for me. The (Watford) training ground is literally right next door.

“It would have been more convenient, but I don’t think it would have been the change that I needed completely. In terms of even things like route to work."

“When you do something for over ten years sometimes you feel like you need change. Moving from home where I can get my head down and focus can only help me."

Watford would go on to have the last laugh on Saturday through Jose Holebas, who may have been kept out of the team by Gibbs had he signed.

The 33-year-old made a crucial last-minute block on James McClean, before providing the assist for Richarlison to score a 95th-minute equaliser at the Hawthorns.