Watford FC could be set for financial windfall with knock-on effect of Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres transfer saga | OneFootball

Watford FC are poised to receive a significant windfall from the potential transfer of Colombian Luis Suarez to Sporting CP

Watford FC are poised to receive a significant windfall from the potential transfer of Colombian Luis Suarez to Sporting CP, as the Portugese side have identified him as Viktor Gyokeres' replacement.

Suarez's connection to Watford dates back to 2017, when the striker joined the Hornets from Leones.

However, he never made a competitive appearance for the club, spending his entire time at Vicarage Road on loan spells in Spain.

Granada activated their option to sign him permanently in 2020 for £10m, and he scored 15 times in 75 appearances before a brief stint at French outfit Marseille.

From there, Suarez moved to Almeria, where he finished as LaLiga 2's top scorer in the 2024-25 season, notching a mammoth 27 goals.

Arsenal, Gyokeres transfer creates €7.5m Watford FC opportunity

Arsenal are currently in advanced negotiations with Sporting CP to secure the services of former Coventry City star Viktor Gyokeres, with the North London club reportedly prepared to offer around €70m.

And the Hornets could be set to benefit from the domino effect of Arsenal's pursuit of Gyokeres, with Sporting identifying Luis Suarez as their primary target to replace the Swede, as per A Bola.

Suarez's impressive goal-scoring record has attracted attention from several European clubs, including Liverpool, but Sporting are understood to be the only club to have formally expressed interest in signing him at this stage.

Almeria are reportedly seeking a fee in the region of €25m (£21.5m) for Suarez, which would trigger Watford's sell-on clause of around 30% from the Colombian's previous moves, with that figure reported by The Athletic in 2022.

This would mean Watford could receive as much as €7.5m (£6.5m) from the transfer if Sporting match Almeria's asking price - providing a substantial boost to their own funds this summer.

Luis Suarez's sell on clause would massively help Watford in their push for promotion

In June, Watford owner Gino Pozzo made the largest digital equity share offer in English football history - by putting 10 per cent of the club up for sale with shares on offer for around £12.

The Hertfordshire-based club made a profit of £24.1m for 2023, so it was unusual for Pozzo to do such a thing - as share sales are often seen as a last resort for those in debt - although those accounts were two years ago and there are no more parachute payments for the Hornets.

Despite Suarez never playing for Watford's first team, the club's shrewd negotiation of sell-on clauses in their transfer dealings could see them earn just above fee they sold Will Hughes to Crystal Palace for - £6m.

While Sporting initially considered Almeria's asking price too high, the potential income from Gyokeres' sale to Arsenal would definitely provide the club with the funds to meet their valuation if they choose to do so.

The timing of these 'domino-effect' transfers could prove vital for all parties involved, with Arsenal eager to complete the Gyokeres deal before pre-season training begins, while Sporting will want to secure their replacement as quickly as possible.

This saga is also a case of how the usage of sell-on clauses can create unexpected financial gains for clubs like Watford. Obviously they're used for this very situation - but as the years go by many forget the intricate details.