Watford are reportedly in the market for Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who is tipped to leave the Serie A club in January.
According to a report by Calciomercato, Watford have emerged as a potential suitor for Thomas Strakosha. The 26-year-old Lazio goalkeeper is facing an uncertain future at the Serie A club after a disappointing start to the campaign. His current contract with the Roman outfit expires at the end of the season, and a January departure could be on the horizon.
A native of Albania, Strakosha is among the longest-serving players at Lazio. He joined the Serie A outfit in 2012 as part of their Under-19 setup. The goalkeeper has not had to look back since, earning his promotion to the senior side in 2013 before making a professional breakthrough on loan at Salernitana during the 2015/16 campaign.
During his ongoing nine-year spell at Lazio, Strakosha has made almost 200 competitive appearances for the club. He had been the undisputed number one choice for Lazio for three seasons before a coronavirus infection stifled his progress. More importantly, it allowed Pepe Reina to claim his place in between the sticks.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper has become the number one for Lazio, leaving Strakosha tumbling down in the pecking order. In fact, the 26-year-old has only featured in three Serie A matches this season, compared to Reina’s 15.
Strakosha’s struggles in nailing down a starting spot have led to speculations over his long-term future at Lazio, especially with his current contract expiring in the summer. The Albanian international has already been linked with a move to Newcastle United earlier in the season, with the player himself reportedly open to a move to Tyneside.
However, it appears the Magpies are set to face stiff competition from Watford in the pursuit of the Lazio shot-stopper. The goalkeeping department has been a bit of an issue for the Premier League new-boys this season, with both Daniel Bachmann and Ben Foster failing to produce convincing performances between the sticks.
As a result, the Hornets are prepared to land an experienced goalkeeper like Strakosha in January. The 26-year-old Albanian international has not seen much footballing action over the past one and a half years.
However, with almost 150 matches in Serie A and 18 caps for his country, the tall and imposing shot-stopper certainly has the potential to provide a sense of security in the Watford goal during the second half of the campaign.
