Following the takeover of Watford FC by the Italian Pozzo family, former Chelsea star and West Ham manager, Gianfranco Zola, is rumoured to be lined up as the club’s next manager.

Current Watford boss, Sean Dyche, has been quoted by the BBC as being ‘aware of the situation’, as Giampaulo Pozzo publicly asserted that he had reached a verbal agreement with Zola to take over at Vicarage Road.

With Watford due to travel to Turner’s Cross to take on Cork City in late July, Zola’s presence is the precisely the kind of star candy that might turn a standard mid-season friendly into a serious money maker for Tommy Dunne’s side.

Whether or not Zola’s appointment comes to pass, remains to be seen, but Pozzo appears bullishly confident that the appointment will go ahead.