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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Villarreal boss Unai Emery eyeing £20m deal for Emmanuel Dennis with struggling Watford braced for bids

Transfer beckoning? Watford star Emmanuel Dennis has also been linked with the likes of West Ham

(Picture: Getty Images)

Unai Emery is interested in taking Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis to Villarreal this summer.

Dennis moved to Vicarage Road from Club Brugge for a fee of just £3million last year and has excelled during his first season in England, so much so he is now valued at over six times that amount.

Despite Watford struggling near the bottom of the Premier League, Dennis has scored 10 goals and interest in his signature is now growing ahead of the summer transfer window.

Watford want to keep hold of the 24-year-old, but they are currently sat 19th in the table with five games to go and are braced for bids if they get relegated back to the Championship.

Dennis is being tracked by clubs around Europe and is of particular interest to Villarreal, who have been scouting him this season.

Head coach Emery is a fan of the Nigerian and the fact he can play in multiple positions across the front line.

Given Dennis’ fine season and the mounting interest, he is expected to command a transfer fee in excess of £20m.

Other Watford players are likely to attract bids if the club are relegated, with Ismaila Sarr tracked by several suitors in the past.

The likes of Liverpool and Manchester United have watched the winger closely since he moved to England in 2019.

Sarr, however, stayed with Watford when they were last relegated to the Championship back in 2020 and, like Dennis, would command a large fee.

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