“Really needs to gain some English football experience” – Watford plotting loan agreement for Manchester United attacker: The verdict | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Watford are keen to strike a loan deal with Manchester United for young winger Facundo Pellistri in the January transfer window, The Telegraph have reported.

The 21-year-old Uruguayan has been on the Red Devils’ books since 2020 after signing from Penarol, but is yet to make his Premier League bow for the club.

In-fact, he only made his senior debut in Tuesday evening’s 3-0 EFL Cup victory over Charlton Athletic, but he has been a regular recently for the Uruguay national team and played in all three of their FIFA World Cup 2022 matches.

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Ismaila Sarr is being linked with a move away from Vicarage Road this month and Pellistri could potentially be his replacement, but would he be a good fit? The FLW team have weighed it up…

Ben Wignall

Pellistri doesn’t exactly have much in the way of senior footballing experience, but he’s clearly got some talent to be playing for Uruguay at a World Cup.

His long-awaited United debut has now put him in the shop window as he got an assist in his very brief time on the pitch, and if he’s going to make it at United he really needs to gain some English football experience.

Amad Diallo, another young United forward, is coming on leaps and bounds whilst at Sunderland, so they could follow the same path for Pellestri to accelerate his development.

And with Ismaila Sarr’s future at Watford uncertain this month, the Hornets could be a good landing spot for the 21-year-old, who don’t have much depth out wide with just Samuel Kalu the only other fit winger – that should mean Pellestri gets plenty of game-time.

Marcus Ally

After picking up a lot of minutes in La Liga from January 2021 to the end of last season, the first half of this term will have been frustrating for Pellistri.

An EFL loan could do the Uruguayan some good in looking to adapt to senior English football.

There is competition for places at Watford, but with their current injury list predicament, first team opportunities would be available to him in abundance in the short term, and playing with the likes of Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr may help accelerate the 21-year-old’s development.

A large portion of the Hornets’ attacking contingent have been unconvincing since their arrival and, with that in mind, a hungry United youngster would be a smart signing to enhance Bilic’s attacking options.

Watford have an attacking unit that’s the envy of the Championship if we are being honest.

You’d kill for players like Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr, as well as a focal point like Keinan Davis.

Obviously there’s the injury to Joao Pedro, which brings a focus onto players like Pellistri at Manchester United.

The 21-year-old Uruguay international could be an exciting addition to an already vibrant attacking unit.

He’s a strong ball carrier and efficient playing out of tight spaces, carrying qualities that will help improve Watford (if that’s possible) in the final third.

It would be interesting seeing how far Watford can take this season’s promotion push with another addition.