Ben Watson accepts Watford will have to add to their existing squad if they are to compete in the Premier League next season.
The Hornets clinched promotion from the Championship after winning at Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 on Saturday, and then witnessing both Middlesbrough and Norwich City drop points later in the afternoon. This means top-flight football is back on the agenda at Vicarage Road for the first time since 2006-07, when they finished bottom of the table under Aidy Boothroyd.
Watson, who scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final for Wigan Athletic against Manchester City in 2013, only linked up with Watford during the January transfer window but has already racked up 19 appearances for the club. And whilst Slavisa Jokanovic has the basis of strong squad, he also accepts the club will need to make further additions during the summer.
“I am not being arrogant but we have the players to win big games,” said the 29-year-old midfield player. “We have two strikers who have scored 20 goals and another, Matej Vydra, who has 15 and a huge amount of talent at the club. We will need more players in the Premier League – the manager knows that. But these things are out of the players’ hands.”
Bournemouth can clinch the second automatic promotion place if they beat Bolton Wanderers on Monday, due to a much stronger goal difference than third-place Boro who are currently on the same points and, like Norwich, assured of a playoff place. Ipswich Town, Derby County, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers are fighting for two places in the top-six.
Of course Watford will need to add to their squad in the summer transfer window, but how many players will Slavisa Jokanovic need to sign to give them a chance?
