If reports are to be believed, Watford have already reached an agreement with Bundesliga full-back Dennis Aogo as the board looks to strengthen their under-average backline before kicking off next season.
With the new manager Marco Silva at the helm, the Hornets are looking to forget their disastrous last term under Italian manager Walter Mazzarri, where they survived the relegation by just six points including an ugly 5-0 thrashing in front of the home crowd by Manchester City on the last day of the season.
Despite starting the season with hardly any known stars in the side, Mazzarri did brilliantly in ending the first-half of the season in the top-half of the table. But, lack of squad depth and inconsistency forced them to lose 12 games in the second-half, although the Italian boss did bring in the likes of Tom Cleverley and M’baye Niang among others to strengthen the squad.
The Hornets have conceded a staggering 68 goals last term, which, although not the poorest defensive record in the league last year, did speak volumes of the large voids left at their backline. And Silva has wasted no time in repairing it. While Aogo is definitely a quality full-back, his lack of playing time the last term could be an issue for Watford, who will have to give the player time to adapt to English football.
The 30-year-old German has managed just 14 games for Schalke in all competition, where he managed two goals and created one assist. And German publication Bild believes that he is desperate to seek opportunities elsewhere now.
Lacking options in the full-back positions, Mazzarri often had to play his centre-halves in those areas when players were injured. Except for Jose Holebas, Watford had no other natural left-backs in the squad. And Aogo could be a huge addition given his experience at the top level.
An academy product of Bulacher SC, Aogo kept changing clubs on free transfers like SV Waldhof Mannheim and SC Freiburg and got a decent contract with them in 2002. It took him just one year to break into their first team before Hamburger SV bought him three years later in 2008.
Six impressive seasons with them, which saw break into German’s national team making his debut in 2010, ended finally with a loan move to Schalke in 2014. It became permanent the next year, and Aogo has played 91 times in four years for the side. His contract was scheduled to expire in June and Watford are expected to get him for free.
