Watford have approached Manchester City in regards to a potential transfer for Keyendrah Simmonds. The 19-year-old striker is yet to appear at the senior level, though impressed in Manchester City’s youth ranks.
Watford Ask About Keyendrah Simmonds
The Hornets Approach Pep Guardiola’s Side
According to the Sky Sports Live Transfer Blog, Watford made an approach for Simmonds. The youngster’s contract expires at the end of the season.
The Hornets want to make a move now in order to guarantee his arrival. If Simmonds were to wait until the end of the season to make up his mind, then the likelihood of him going to Watford decreases. Manchester City also would be in line for better compensation if Simmonds were to leave in the current transfer window.
Keyendrah Simmonds’ Time With Manchester City
Simmonds, who can play as both a striker and winger, scored in the Club’s EFL Trophy match against Lincoln City. He has also featured in three Premier League 2 matches.
His return with Manchester City’s U18 side, however, is the reason Watford are interested. In 38 appearances for their U18s, Simmonds found the back of the net 22 times and assisted twice.
Simmonds also has experience as an international for England’s U18 side. In five caps, he scored one goal. So, although Simmonds might not be ready for consistent first-team football just yet, he is a prospect for the future. Further, the youngster will know he has a better chance at first-team football at some point with Watford than he does in Manchester.
Following in Tom Dele-Bashiru’s Footsteps
The last time the Hornets signed a player from Manchester City’s youth ranks near/at the conclusion of their contract was not too long ago. In the summer of 2019, Watford secured the signature of central-midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru. Now 21-years-old, the Nigerian youth international player was becoming more involved in the Hornets’ match-day squad until an untimely injury against Reading in his first league start saw him sidelined for many months.
Simmonds, if he joins Watford, is likely to follow the Dele-Bashiru path. This entails training with the first-team, even though minutes will be few and far between. Then, as more time passes, the player grows closer to being in contention to start.
Whether or not Simmonds wants to start a new adventure now or in the summer remains to be seen. But, if he sees how Dele-Bashiru developed from a Manchester City youth player to a Watford first-team player over the course of a year, then perhaps Simmonds will indeed be lured to Vicarage Road this month.
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