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After securing promotion back into the Premier League, it was a fairly busy summer for Watford.
The club made a number of signings while a selection of first-team members left the squad too. Key central midfielder Will Hughes left, as did Nathaniel Chalobah; while Hornets legend Troy Deeney also parted ways after more than a decade in Hertfordshire.
To compensate for these losses, some transfers and loan deals were made to bolster the squad. And now, as we head closer to the January transfer market, it’s a good time to take stock.
It’s been bittersweet for the two Nigerians brought into the Hornets nest last summer, to join fellow Super Eagles player William Troost-Ekong, with Oghenekaro Etebo struggling and Emmanuel Dennis showing the stuff he is made of.
Oghenekaro Etebo Etebo played in the Hornet’s first six league games of the season, making an immediate impact for his new side – impressing on debut in the win over Aston Villa. However, his starts soon turned to substitute appearances.
A quad injury has kept him out in recent weeks meaning he is yet to play under the new manager. His loan move from Stoke City does include an option to buy, so it will be interesting to see how Ranieri opts to use Etebo once he’s fit again.
Emmanuel Dennis
Few fans would have known much about Dennis when arrived from Club Brugge this summer. Now, he is the name on everybody’s lips– including his manager’s.
Ranieri recently:”He is a very good talented player. He is fast, good skills. He always goes straight away to the goal. I love these kinds of players.”
In his first 11 Premier League appearances, the Nigerian has already contributed directly to nine goals. With five assists and four strikes of his own, Dennis is certainly looking like the club’s best piece of business this summer.
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