Okoye set for Watford exit

Nigerian goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, looks set to leave Watford this summer after he dropped down to third in the pecking order at the club, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Okoye, who played second fiddle to the Hornets first choice Daniel Bachmann last season, is now behind second choice Ben Hamer ahead of the new season.

Okoye is yet to make the Watford squad in pre-season and having not played in either of the two friendlies games against National League side Boreham Wood and their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last week, his absence raises more concerns about his future and it seems likely it lies away from Vicarage Road.

According to a report on Watford Observer, Okoye and Watford are open to the idea of a permanent transfer this summer.

“It would be no surprise if Okoye were to leave during the transfer window,” the website wrote.

“He was conspicuously missing from the Hornets’ 0-0 draw at National League side Boreham Wood and their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last week, which fuels speculation about his future.”

The Nigeria international moved to Watford from Sparta Rotterdam a year ago, for an initial fee in the region of €3.5m.

He made only two appearances for the Hornets — in the League Cup and FA Cup — and although he was on the bench for the majority of the first half of the season, he was only named as a substitute four times in 2023. A shoulder injury then curtailed his involvement towards the end of last season.