Watford Opinion: Hornets should beat Leicester to sign left-back Pedro Rebocho
According to claims from French news outlet L’Equipe, as cited by Watford Observer, Premier League clubs Watford and Leicester City are interested in signing Guingamp assist-machine Pedro Rebocho this summer.
The 24-year-old Portuguese left-back has been one of the few shining lights in Guingamp’s otherwise lacklustre campaign in Ligue 1 this term, which looks sure to end in relegation.
Rebocho has accumulated a total of 11 assists from 40 games for Guingamp in all competitions this season and his scintillating run of form has put him on the radar of Leicester City and Watford, with both the clubs interested in adding at least another left-back to their ranks this summer.
Leicester need a back up for first-choice Ben Chilwell, with Austrian veteran Christian Fuchs out of contract in the summer and looking for a move to the MLS, while Watford are also expected to continue their hunt for a long-term successor to Greek maestro Jose Holebas.
The Hornets brought in Adam Masina from Serie A side Bologna last summer but the Moroccan hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations in his first season in English football.
Javi Gracia has the likes of Marc Navarro, Daryl Janmaat and Kiko Femenia as options at right-back but the manager is short of adequate cover on the left-hand side of the backline and Watford might find themselves in serious trouble should Holebas be sidelined with an injury.
To put things into perspective, Guingamp’s in-form left-back Pedro Rebocho would be an ideal signing for both the aforementioned Premier League sides but Watford should look to get one over their rivals and beat off competition for the 24-year-old in the summer.
Rebocho has proven his worth as a useful offensive-minded full-back for a struggling Guingamp side in Ligue 1 and a move to the Premier League might just be the next big step in his career.
A product of Benfica’s youth academy, Rebocho featured largely for the club’s reserve side in the Portuguese second tier before completing a move to Moreirense in 2016 to enjoy more regular minutes in the top flight.
He rose to prominence with Moreirense in the Primeira Liga and was snapped up by Guingamp back in 2017. The 24-year-old has starred for the Ligue 1 outfit ever since, producing 13 assists from 64 appearances in all competitions.
Rebocho has earned a staggering 69 caps for Portugal at all youth levels comprised from U-16 to U-21, though he is yet to make his senior international bow for his nation. His feat of 11 assists this season has only been surpassed by five other left-backs in Europe, including Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, Porto’s Alex Telles and Barcelona’s Jordi Alba.
Well, Watford would be more than happy if Pedro Rebocho turns out to be even half as good as the names mentioned above. Standing at 5ft. 7 inches, Rebocho is not particularly tall for a left-back but he makes up for it with his tackling and game reading abilities.
He constantly keeps patrolling up and down the pitch and is always keen to support the attack with his immaculate crossing, while also possessing a wonderful eye for setting up goals with key passes from the wide areas.
The 24-year-old has a pass success percentage of 78.8, including 1.3 key passes,1.5 crosses and 2.1 successful long balls per game in Ligue 1 this term. Furthermore, Rebocho has averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per game, figures which speak volumes of his well-rounded attributes as a left-back.
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Rebocho still has plenty of time to make improvements to his game and Watford could have a gem in their hands if they manage to strike a deal for the 24-year-old former Portuguese youth international this summer.
