Watford ready to offload captain Troy Deeney and want to replace him with Bournemouth ace Benik Afobe
Hornets captain set to be off-loaded as boss Marco Silva looks to ring the changes in an effort to stop side being dragged down into the relegation zone in the Premier League
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WATFORD are considering selling Troy Deeney and replacing him with Benik Afobe.
Hornets boss Marco Silva is looking to revitalise his stuttering squad in order to try to halt their alarming slide towards the relegation battle.
Seven defeats in the last nine Premier League matches have left Silva looking anxiously over his shoulder at the drop zone.
And he believes finding someone else to come in and provide a cutting edge to his side may be needed to ensure they stay clear of trouble.
The Mail say Bournemouth striker Afobe is the player he has his eyes on to give the team a goal boost over the second half of the season.
And the player who could make way appears to be club captain Deeney - who has been a major influence inside the Vicarage Road dressing room in recent years.
The 29-year-old has played a key role in the club maintaining their status as a Premier League side, and is a major favourite with the fans.
But his impact on the pitch has dwindled this season, scoring just two goals as he struggles to make any impact against opposition defences.
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He has just served a four match ban for his sending off against Huddersfield - having already missed three games with a suspension for violent conduct in October.
And his absence has convinced boss Silva the club can survive without their talisman, especially considering his goal input has now dried up.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez has earmarked Deeney as a player he would like to sign over the January transfer window.
And Silva is considering cashing in on the forward in an effort to free up funds for his own spending this month.
Afobe has been watched in recent weeks by Watford scouts and Silva is said to be weighing up making a bid for his services.
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The 24-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Bournemouth in the Premier League since his £10million move from Wolves two years ago.
He has scored just ten times in the top flight in 62 appearances for the club, and found himself behind Callum Wilson and Josh King in the pecking order.
But with the Cherries locked in their own fight to avoid the drop it is unclear whether they would sell to one of their rivals at this stage.