Watford close in on deal for Sheffield United flop | OneFootball

Yasser Larouci is reportedly in talks to move to Vicarage Road on a season-long loan deal

Watford are reported to be in advanced talks to bring former Sheffield United loanee Yasser Larouci to the club on a season-long loan from Troyes.

That’s according to Adam Leventhal of The Athletic, who says that the Hornets are negotiating a 12-month deal, with the option to buy the left-sided star next summer.

The Algerian international featured just eleven times for the Blades during their recent Premier League campaign, with just six of those appearances coming from the first whistle.

But with the Hornets looking to strengthen their options on the left side of defence, Larouci has been earmarked as the man to fill the void at Vicarage Road, with talks currently ongoing between the two sides.

Yasser Larouci struggles to impress for Sheffield United

Larouci could be set for a second stint in English football after talks with the Hertfordshire outfit begin to gather pace, and the 23-year-old will be hoping a move to the EFL will be better than the previous year he spent in the country.

After featuring in the first four matches of United’s Premier League campaign, the left-back soon found game time hard to come by during his time at Bramall Lane, with just two more matches under his belt before Christmas came around.

Chris Wilder was evidently not a fan of the defender, with the returning Blades boss playing Larouci in just five league matches once he retook his post in Yorkshire, as relegation from the top flight was eventually confirmed.

In a stat that sums up the Steel City outfit’s previous 12 months, the Troyes loanee never finished on the winning side during his first taste in English football, with draws against Aston Villa and Everton all he had to show for his efforts for the club.

Watford keen to add defensive options ahead of Championship campaign

Tom Cleverley [pictured] will be keen to add defensive options to his ranks ahead of the Championship curtain-raiser next weekend, with the Hornets struggling to avoid shipping goals during their pre-season campaign.

A 3-2 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night was the latest example of a porous defensive unit that the former Manchester United man needs to improve on in the coming weeks, especially with Wesley Hoedt potentially on his way out of the club.

Turkish outfit Trabzonspor have been reportedly tracking the Dutchman during the summer transfer window, and are said to be very keen on bringing him to the club in the coming weeks, although he did limp out of the action against the Chairboys.

So far this summer, Cleverley has only managed to add young Udinese defender Antonio Tikvic to their ranks from a defensive point of view, and that lack of a strong spine throughout the side already seems to be evident before a ball has been kicked in anger.

With James Morris the only real option at left-back at this moment in time, the Hornets are desperate to add extra options to their squad before the transfer window slams shut, and Larouci could be the man to fill the void.

The Hertfordshire outfit were said to be interested in Queens Park Rangers player Kenneth Paal who could do a similar job on the left side of defence, although attention now looks to have turned towards the former Sheffield United man.