Watford manager Valerien Ismael declined the chance to bring back former Hornets player Emmanuel Dennis in the summer transfer window. Ismael’s tenure at Watford has faced challenges since he took over as head coach, with the team falling short of expectations in the 2022-23 Championship season. Despite being considered one of the favorites for promotion, Watford didn’t make the playoffs and went through three different managers.
In the previous season, Ismael was appointed by owner Gino Pozzo, who had a history of making bold decisions. The transfer window proved difficult for Ismael, with key players Ismaila Sarr and Joao Pedro sold, limiting his funds. As a result, only four new permanent signings were made during the summer.
As of now, Watford’s performance in the Championship has been disappointing, sitting in 20th place after 11 matches, just two points above the relegation zone. Despite this, Ismael received a new contract, indicating his significant influence on the club, including control over transfers, following the departure of technical director Ben Manga.
One notable decision made by Ismael was to reject the opportunity to re-sign Emmanuel Dennis, a former Premier League player, who could have bolstered Watford’s attack. Just a few months after Dennis was sold to Nottingham Forest, there were reports that Forest wanted to send him back to Vicarage Road, as he couldn’t play for another European club due to having appeared for two teams in the same season.
Ultimately, a deal for Dennis’s return to Watford never materialized, and he continued to play for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. However, his fortunes at the club appeared to decline in the 2023-24 season.
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