Pellistri features: 3 perfect PL loan signings Watford should already be eyeing | OneFootball

Watford will once again enter a fresh Championship season with a different man in the dugout in 2024/25, but this time, things are a lot more personal.

Former Watford captain Tom Cleverley is now the club's permanent head coach, appointed after a short but impressive stint in charge as interim boss following Valerien Ismael's sacking.

Make no mistake about it, Cleverley and the Watford hierarchy have their work cut out this summer to transform the fortunes of a club that have, for two seasons now, been bang average, and nothing more than a fledgling mid-table side.

Add to that the fact the Hornets' parachute payments from the Premier League have now ended, and the club will need to be creative in the transfer market this summer.

Of course, one key thing Watford could utilise next season when bringing in players is the Premier League loan market.

Once upon a time, boss Cleverely was a loanee from the Premier League himself, having been sent on loan to Vicarage Road from Manchester United in 2009, and there are plenty of names the 34-year-old could target from the top-flight next season.

With that said, below, we've picked out and discussed three names we think could be ambitious but strong targets for the club this summer.

Harry Toffolo

Nottingham Forest

A brief glance at Watford's squad list ahead of next season, and it's clear to see that the club need to strengthen at left-back.

Jamal Lewis was on loan from Newcastle in 2023/24 but failed to impress, meaning Watford are surely not going to take up their option to sign him permanently this summer.

If Lewis departs as expected, it will leave just James Morris as a recognised left-back, and with all due respect, he is not at the level to be first choice at this stage in his career.

As such, Watford could turn to Nottingham Forest and potentially try to loan Harry Toffolo in.

Although the 28-year-old was a regular under Steve Cooper at the City Ground earlier this season, Nuno Espirito Santo has started him just four times since taking over in December, and with the Forest boss set to bring in his own players this summer, it could see Toffolo fall further out of favour, potentially making him available this summer.

Toffolo has previously played excellently in the Championship and is a real attacking threat in the right system, as evidenced by his seven direct goal contributions in 2020/21 and a further 13 in 2021/22.

Facundo Pellistri

Man United

Another area that Watford will surely be looking to strengthen this summer is the wide areas in attack. As such, the next two loan signings will fill these positions.

This might seem an ambitious target, but Pellistri was linked with Watford last January, and his career has not massively progressed since, meaning a loan move could still be possible.

Cleverley could look to use his Manchester United connections to get this one done, in what could be a beneficial move for both Watford, United, and the player himself.

Pellistri is reported to have great talent, but if he wants to succeed at Old Trafford in the long term, a loan for regular minutes in the English second tier would certainly do him no harm.

The 22-year-old only has to look at teammate Amad Diallo to see what a season in the Championship can do for your career at an early stage.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Crystal Palace

Last but certainly not least, and a player more than familiar with what an EFL loan spell can do for your development, Watford could look to add another exciting young wide attacker on loan in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Having had an injury-affected 2023/24, it remains to be seen what Oliver Glasner's plans are for the 21-year-old, but if he is not going to be a regular at Palace, Cleverley could look to tempt him to Vicarage Road.

Rak-Sakyi is certainly a player ready for Championship football after a phenomenal spell on loan at Charlton Athletic in 2022/23.

During his time at The Valley, the winger scored 15 goals and registered eight assists in 43 third tier appearances for a side that finished the campaign in 10th place.

It would certainly be exciting to see Rak-Sakyi arrive at Vicarage Road and indeed see what he can do at Championship level.