Watford considering loan swoop for Aston Villa prodigy.

According to The Athletic, Watford are considering Aston Villa prospect Lino Sousa as they look for a new left back.

Watford will have an important summer transfer window as they look to make meaningful strides back up the Championship table in 2024/25.

They have appointed former midfielder Tom Cleverley as permanent manager at Vicarage Road. He impressed during his interim tenure, but he will now be tasked with leading the Hornets into a brighter future.

As a result, this summer’s recruitment will be crucial, and a few players have already been linked.

According to The Athletic, one prospect on the radar is left-back Lino Sousa.

Watford are reportedly interested in the Aston Villa youngster as they look for targets on the left side of defence. His parent club is set to review options ahead of next season, with other teams reportedly interested.

Sousa spent the second half of last season with Plymouth Argyle, appearing eight times for the club.

An area to bolster

Cleverley appears to be looking to improve his left-back situation early in the transfer window.

Sousa isn’t the only one on the radar; The Athletic has confirmed that QPR’s Kenneth Paal is also being considered. However, no official action has been taken on that front yet.

It’s no surprise that it’s a focal point. As things stand, only promising academy graduate James Morris is a natural fit on the left side, though fellow youngster Ryan Andrews has played there before.

Someone who can compete with Morris could help the Hornets prospect perform to his full potential. And, if it’s just a loan signing, they won’t jeopardise his chances of becoming a regular starter in the future.

That could make Sousa a sensible signing, but it remains to be seen what Aston Villa decides about his immediate future.

More on Sousa

Lisborn-born Sousa is undoubtedly a promising player for the future, and a new loan away from Aston Villa to a club like Watford could be beneficial to his development.

However, the Villans will most likely be wary of where they send him next. The 19-year-old’s playing time at Plymouth Argyle was limited as the club battled relegation and fired the manager who brought him in, Ian Foster.

As Sousa seeks to advance from youth football, it is critical that he play regularly at the senior level. If Watford can provide that, they should have a good chance of getting him through the door.

The youngster has previously been with Arsenal and West Brom. He can play as a full-back or wing-back, and both positions provide attacking potential.

Former Watford owner and chairman dies at age 98.

In other news, Former Watford owner and chairman dies at age 98.