{"id":580299,"date":"2021-01-25T03:05:14","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T08:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=580299"},"modified":"2021-01-25T03:05:14","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T08:05:14","slug":"a-swap-deal-between-andre-gray-and-matej-vydra-could-be-on-the-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/01\/25\/a-swap-deal-between-andre-gray-and-matej-vydra-could-be-on-the-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"A Swap Deal Between Andre Gray and Matej Vydra Could Be on the Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, it was revealed that Watford were interested in signing Matej Vydra<\/a> for a third time. The Watford Observer<\/a> suggests the Hornets are asking Burnley<\/a> about a loan move. Burnley, however, would rather see Vydra<\/a> sold. Regardless of the deal which sees the Czech Republic international depart, the Clarets will not allow him to leave until they have a replacement.<\/p>\n

Matej Vydra and Andre Gray: Possible Returns to Their Former Clubs<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Matej Vydra Reputation At Vicarage Road<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vydra and the Hornets have a strong history together. Between his time with the club during the 2012\/13 and 2014\/15 campaigns, he scored 38 times and assisted 15 goals. In his first spell with Watford<\/a>, the club lost in the Championship playoff final. In his second stint at the club, the Hornets earned promotion to the Premier League.<\/p>\n

After first being loaned to Reading, and then sold to Derby County, Vydra found himself at Turf Moor. The versatile forward\u2019s time with Burnley has not been as successful as the player and club desired. For Dyche\u2019s squad, Vydra has 11 goal contributions in 54 appearances. Vydra is currently their fourth-choice striker.<\/p>\n

With the European Championship a few months away, Vydra knows he needs to play more consistently to make the Czech Republic squad. A move to a club where he is already a fan-favourite is bound to intrigue Vydra. Vydra\u2019s smart movement has been missing for the Hornets on many occasions this season.<\/p>\n

Andre Gray Underperforming<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite having one of the highest expected-goal statistics in the Championship, Andre Gray<\/a> has only found the back of the net once this season. He finds himself behind Troy Deeney<\/a> and Joao Pedro<\/a> in the pecking order. With Stipe Perica<\/a> soon coming back from injury, if Gray does not return to form quickly, he will be subdued to the most limited of minutes.<\/p>\n

In contrast to Burnley, if the Hornets were to sign a striker, they would need one to depart to balance the wage budget and be able to have a healthy rotation.<\/p>\n

Sean Dyche\u2019s Fondness of Andre Gray<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Last year, Gray was linked with a return to Turf Moor.<\/a> Now, he could be seen as the perfect collateral in a deal seeing Vydra move to Watford.<\/p>\n

A few months after Gray was sold to Watford for \u00a318.5 million in the summer of 2018, Dyche admitted, \u201cI still send Andre the odd text. I wish him well. He\u2019s a terrific lad, he was absolutely top class for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dyche\u2019s thoughts towards Gray are not suspected to have changed in the past couple of seasons \u2013 even with Gray\u2019s poor goal-scoring record.<\/p>\n

A swap-deal involving Vydra and Gray is unlikely. However, the pieces are in place for it to happen. It is not as far-fetched of a possibility as some might think it is.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>