Carlton Palmer tips Watford FC as "the likely destination" for Nottingham Forest man amid Sheffield Wednesday interest | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has predicted that Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis will join Watford, amid transfer competition from Sheffield Wednesday

EFL Pundit Carlton Palmer has predicted that Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis will join Watford, amid interest in his services from both the Hornets and fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

According to The Sun, the 27-year-old's former club, Watford, have held talks with Forest, but are unable to afford his £4m a year salary, while Wednesday are also keen, but are yet to agree terms, and there have also been offers from abroad.

Football League World asked Palmer if Dennis could be the difference maker in the Owls' play-off push, in the event that they beat the Hornets to his signature.

Palmer reacts to Wednesday and Watford interest in Forest striker Dennis

The pundit and former England international exclusively told FLW: "Sheffield Wednesday join Watford and others in the Emmanuel Dennis race.

"It's an interesting one with Emmanuel, he's failed to make a single appearance for Forest this season, and a January window exit seems inevitable for the 27-year-old, who can play as a striker and a winger.

"However, the problem, or the challenge that clubs will have, (is that) they (Forest) want to get him off the books, but he's earning a multi-million pound salary.

"He spent (half of) last season on loan at Vicarage Road, and was able to make a respectable impact there, though he would have been keen to have got himself on the scoresheet even more frequently than he did - 18 appearances, four goals.

"It's going to be interesting, because obviously, they want to get him off the books, Nottingham Forest, he's not playing regularly.

"It's basically (a case of) who can come up with a salary, or come up with some sort of compensation with Nottingham Forest about his salary (and) who's paying what.

"I think it's important for him to move, to get playing, start performing well.

"If he went back to Vicarage Road, which I think would probably suit the player more.

"He would settle in quicker, then Forest are saying, 'right well we'll get him out for good money at the end of the season, or we'll at least be able to loan him again next season'.

"So he would be good for Sheffield Wednesday in their quest to get them to the play-offs this season, but I would think, as I've said, that Watford would be the likely destination for Emmanuel Dennis, seeing as they agreed the loan deal there last season.

"Finances were sorted, and as I say, he could step in there quite easily and then Nottingham Forest can assess his future at the end of the season."

Dennis could be an asset for Watford

As outlined by Palmer, should the Hornets look to make a loan move for Dennis this month, his high wages could prove to be an issue for the Championship club.

However, if the Hertfordshire side are able to make an agreement with Forest, the Nigeria international could prove to be a real asset for the Vicarage Road club.

While on loan in the Championship with the Hornets last season, he scored four goals in 17 league appearances, which is a figure he should be keen to better if he returns this January.

But when he was a permanent Hornets player, back in 2021/22, he notched an impressive return of 10 goals and six assists in 33 Premier League outings.

While Forest should look to offload Dennis, who they have not been able to award any game time this season, he could prove to be a solid signing for play-off chasers Watford, who appear more likely than Wednesday to land his services during the current transfer window, given his previous affiliations with the club.