Sam Hutchinson has been linked with a free transfer to Watford
According to the Daily Mail, Watford are in talks to complete a free transfer for former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Sam Hutchinson, who is currently without a club following his release from Hillsborough at the end of last season.
The Hornets have already struck a deal to sign veteran striker Glenn Murray on loan from Brighton while young right-back Jeremy Ngakia has also joined the ranks on a free transfer from West Ham this summer.
Born in Windsor, Sam Hutchinson rose through the youth ranks of Chelsea and made his professional debut for the Blues as a teenager way back during the 2006-07 season. However, a series of knee injuries stalled his progress and the former England U-19 international only made a handful of first-team appearances for Chelsea.
The 31-year-old subsequently spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest, Vitesse Arnhem, and Sheffield Wednesday before joining the latter permanently on a free transfer.
Having started his career as a versatile defender capable of playing as a centre-back and a right-back, Hutchinson gradually transitioned into a holding midfielder during his days at Hillsborough. The ex-Chelsea graduate was a key player as the Owls reached back-to-back playoffs under former manager Carlos Carvahal.
Hutchinson made 154 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday over the course of his six-year stay at the club, registering 6 goals and 4 assists in the process. He featured 23 times in the league last term, playing in a multitude of positions for Garry Monk’s side.
Watford have lost the services of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has joined Everton. Furthermore, it has also been reported that Etienne Capoue could also follow Doucoure out through the exit door at Vicarage Road, while Will Hughes has emerged as a target for Tottenham.
To that end, the Hornets would need to bring in some fresh faces to replace their long-serving central midfield pairing and Sam Hutchinson seems like a good option for a number of reasons.
The 31-year-old established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the English second-tier over the course of his illustrious spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Hutchinson’s status as a seasoned campaigner in the Championship makes him an ideal signing for a promotion-chasing side like Watford.
The former Chelsea prospect also boasts the versatility to play as a centre-back and right-back, two departments where Watford can do with some additional cover following the departure of veteran Adrian Mariappa.
Sam Hutchinson boasts of a bagful of experience at this level and still has a lot of football left in him at 31. The former Owls star is also versatile enough to play in a number of positions and his imminent availability on a free transfer presents an excellent market opportunity for Watford to bolster their squad.