Watford have picked up Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury for a season long loan, in one of only a few Foxes movements in the summer transfer window.
The midfield has become a heavily populated area at the King Power Stadium, with the rise to first team status of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and return from loan of Dennis Praet, meaning Choudhury at this point is surplus to requirements and would not have featured in Brendan Rodgers’ plans. A year-long stint at a bottom half Premier League side was a suggestion, with Daily Mail reporting the former England under-21 international was keen to maximise his starting opportunities.
West Bromwich Albion and Watford, who incidentally drew with one and other 1-1 at the Hawthorns last night, were both said to be keen on acquiring Choudhury’s services, with West Brom boss Steve Bruce a long-time admirer. During his time at Newcastle, Bruce was hoping to take the middleman on loan, but a deal never materialised. If you would like to continue with the article, please now click the link button labelled ‘Page 2’ directly underneath this paragraph.
Watford, who have started their second-tier campaign with a win and a draw, were looking to bolster their midfield, which while brimmed with experience, currently looks quite thin. Choudhury could potentially compete for places with Dan Gosling, and former Leicester man Tom Cleverley, as Rob Edwards’ men look to bounce back to the English top-flight at the first attempt.
West Brom, on the other hand, had been more adequately stocked in the engine room, so the fight for a starting berth would have been be more competitive at the Hawthorns. Choudhury would have had to displace one of club captain Jake Livermore and Republic of Ireland international Jason Molumby. With the added threat of Alex Mowatt and the homegrown Taylor Gardner-Hickman in reserve.
Rodgers has been keen to stress that incoming transfers would be incumbent on the club letting existing players go, and this particular departure frees up space in the squad for the Northern Irishman to explore more targets. James Maddison, Wesley Fofana and Harvey Barnes have been the subject of interest from Newcastle United and Chelsea, but selling even one of those three players would generate tons more revenue than loaning Choudhury.
Having grown up at Belvoir Drive, the Foxes’ former training ground, Choudhury would have hoped to make more of a lasting impression at the King Power Stadium by now, but a lack of game time and failing to break into a talented midfield has meant his time at his boyhood club may be cut permanently short. Once linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid and a host of European giants, the No. 29 has showed glimpses of excellence, but the infrequence of appearances and failure to cement a regular starting spot has led to this stunning potential not being realised.
With less than 12 months left on his existing deal, and at the age of 24, Choudhury will surely be thinking his future might lie elsewhere from City. A talented all-rounder in the middle of the park, who is more than just a defensive midfielder, he will undoubtedly find himself at EPL level once again in the future.
Choudhury has elected to play at Vicarage Road, and should secure a starting spot, so may perhaps end up back in the Prem’ sooner than he expects. The Hornets’ midfield options are limited, with age not being on the side of the aforementioned Gosling nor Cleverley. Therefore a strong season, taking on responsibility, leading by example with his performances, could see the Loughborough-born player snapped up on a free transfer after his contract with the Foxes comes to an end.