According to claims from Watford Observer, Watford have secured the services of Udinese striker Stipe Perica on a season-long loan deal as a part of their rebuilding job this summer.
The Hornets have already signed veteran striker Glenn Murray on loan from Brighton following their relegation from the Premier League last season while young right-back Jeremy Ngakia has also joined on a free transfer from West Ham.
Born in Croatia, Stipe Perica started his career with hometown club Zadar before earning a move to Chelsea in the summer of 2013. But he never made a professional appearance for the Stamford Bridge outfit.
The former Croatia U-21 international spent time on loan at NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie before joining Italian club Udinese in January 2015, initially on loan, before sealing a permanent £4million transfer to the Serie A outfit in the summer of 2016.
Perica has struggled to nail down a regular starting role at Udinese, going through loan spells at Kasimpasa in Turkey, fellow Italian club Frosinone, and Belgian outfit Royal Excel Mouscron, where he scored 8 goals in 16 appearances last season.
Watford added the likes of Danny Welbeck and Ismaila Sarr to a forward line already boasting names like Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu last summer.
However, the Hornets currently find themselves under pressure to cut down their wage bill significantly after failing to preserve their Premier League status last term. Captain Troy Deeney has emerged as a target for West Brom and Tottenham while Sarr is very much on the radar of PL champions Liverpool.
Welbeck, meanwhile, has attracted interest from Southampton in what could well set the tone for a mass exodus of players at Vicarage Road this summer. Watford have already started rebuilding their attack with the acquisition of veteran striker Glenn Murray.
And, Stipe Perica can be a useful addition to Watford’s ranks as the Hornets get ready to mount a strong challenge for promotion in the Championship.
The Croatian striker boasts top-flight experience in Croatia, Italy, Holland, Turkey, and Belgium. An overall career record of 40 goals in 170 appearances for six different clubs makes for some decent readings on paper. Plus, Perica’s towering 6ft 4in frame would make him a good replacement for Deeney, who may depart the club this summer.
Stipe Perica hasn’t really set the world on fire at Udinese or at any of his previous clubs. But at 25, he still has his best years ahead of him.
Despite lacking stability in his career due to frequent change of surroundings, the Croatian has produced some decent returns so far. Having said that, Watford can have a quality player on their hands if Ivic manages to get the best out of the Croatian next season.