McNair features: 5 free agents who Watford FC must consider ASAP | OneFootball

Following a 15th place finish in the Championship, Watford FC are in for a busy summer.

With Tom Cleverley at the helm heading into next season, the new Hornets boss will be keen to get the club moving up the table, and to do that, he and the club will need to get recruitment spot on.

Of course, funds at Vicarage Road are not endless, and Cleverley himself has already admitted the club will need to be 'creative' in the transfer market to get business done.

With that in mind, below, we've identified and discussed five free agents, or soon-to-be free agents, that the Hornets could consider making a move for.

1 Oliver Norwood

First and foremost, Oliver Norwood is one name worth considering, and according to reports, is being considered.

According to Football Insider, the Hornets are one of three sides currently chasing Norwood ahead of next season, with Sunderland and Hull also keen.

Norwood did turn 33 in April, but, Jake Livermore showed last season that you should not be written off just because of age.

Norwood has extensive Championship experience, and plenty of experience of winning promotion, and as a replacement for Livermore, whose contract expires this summer, it could be a shrewd move for Watford.

2 Paddy McNair

Soon-to-be former Middlesbrough defender Paddy McNair is another free agent worth considering for Watford this summer.

Watford do not have extensive options at centre-back, with Wesley Hoedt, Ryan Porteous, Francisco Sierralta and Mattie Pollock the club's choices at present.

Even without any exits, McNair could slide into that back line and compete for a start, bolstering the squad for no transfer fee.

McNair only turned 29 in April, too, so has plenty of time left in terms of his playing career.

3 Alan Browne

Another 29-year-old that is set to become a free agent this summer as it stands is Preston North End captain Alan Browne.

Again, like the others in this list, Brown is a very experienced Championship operator, with 346 appearances in the division under his belt as of the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

With the likes of Livermore and Louza potentially moving on this summer, Browne, like Norwood above, would be a reinforcement with great experience for no spend in terms of a transfer fee.

Watford may have to act quickly to get this one done, however, with Preston reportedly keen to keep Browne, offering him a new deal at Deepdale.

4 Asmir Begovic

The goalkeeping position is one that needs addressing this summer at Watford.

Last season, Ben Hamer and Daniel Bachmann held the number one shirt for certain periods of time, with the latter starting under Cleverley towards the end of the season.

With Watford linked with Farense goalkeeper Ricardo Velho this summer already, though, it would suggest the club are in the market for a new number one.

One name worth considering on a free could be Asmir Begovic.

Watford have a history of bringing in experienced goalkeepers on free transfers in modern history, think Manuel Almunia or Heurelho Gomes, and this could be a shrewd move if the club want a new challenger to Bachmann, with Hamer's contract expiring.

5 Tyrese Campbell

With Mileta Rajovic and Vakoun Bayo not really producing the goods in terms of goals last season, a new striker will surely be on Tom Cleverley's list this summer.

In fact, multiple forward additions may be, and in that case, a punt on Tyrese Campbell could be worth a shot.

Sure, there are some fitness concerns, but, a free transfer for a player with nearly 150 Championship appearances and that can operate anywhere across the front line if needed could be worth the risk.

Campbell did play 41 league matches in 2022/23, so he can stay fit and his career could benefit from the change of scenery having come through the youth ranks at Stoke.