Former Bristol City striker Benik Afobe is a summer target for Watford, according to reports, as the Hornets bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
Afobe, who endeared himself to the City fanbase during his loan spell in the 2019/20 campaign, spent last term with Millwall where he scored 13 goals but has since returned to parent club Stoke City who he hasn’t played for since August 2019.
Football Insider report that the 29-year-old is on the radar of Watford as they are set to lose up to three strikers this summer with Premier League interest in Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis and Andre Gray out of contract.
Afobe still has a year to run on his contract at the bet365 Stadium but doesn’t appear to be part of Michael O’Neill’s plans having spent the last three seasons out on loan.
One of those switches was to City in 2020/21, where he made an instant impact for the Robins, scoring three goals in five games before suffering an ACL injury that kept him out of action for nine months and when he returned, it was clear he wasn’t fully fit, with City then falling short in their bid to reach the play-offs.
With City unable and unwilling to match his wages at Stoke, Afobe was then sent on loan to Trabzonspor in Turkey before returning to England last summer and joining Millwall where he struck 13 goals in 41 appearances, in all competitions, under Gary Rowett, including a penalty at Ashton Gate in January where he refused to celebrate in front of home fans.
City and Afobe continue to hold a strong bond after he tragically lost his daughter Amora to illness in 2019, with the club and fanbase rallying round the striker.
As it stands, with top-scorer Andi Weimann, Antoine Semenyo, Chris Martin, Nahki Wells and young forwards Tommy Conway and Sam Bell, City don't appear to be in the market for a striker this summer. A situation that could change if one, or several, players in the position were to leave.
Watford are currently the bookmakers' favourite to earn promotion next season, despite the prospect of a number of players leaving Vicarage Road this summer and with a new head coach in charge in Rob Edwards.
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