Emmanuel Dennis was linked with a return to Watford FC during the summer transfer window, but that move fell through.
Watford manager Valerian Ismael has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to re-sign Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis during the summer transfer window, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nottingham Forest are rebuilding their squad during the 2023 summer break and Dennis was listed as one of the players available for transfer.
There were rumors that Dennis would return to the pastorate, but Ismael was unconvinced and rejected the offer to bring back the Nigerian.
However, his performance in the domestic league fell short of expectations, with just two goals in 19 appearances.
This disappointing performance is said to be one of the main reasons Ismael decided not to bring the 25-year-old striker back to Watford.
His answer was clear and direct, as quoted by the Watford Observer. “His name was on my desk and I said no.”
Ismael’s decision was also influenced by other options in the transfer market, such as South Korean representative Cho Gu Sung, who ultimately moved to Midtjylland.
“We had a number of players who fit the profile of number 9, so we were working on their development at the same time,” Ismael explained.
“You have a list of names and you start thinking about which names are possible and which are not.
“At times we were taken advantage of by agents who tarnished Watford’s name and inflated the market.” At some point we stopped this behavior and changed our reputation. You need to continue to hold on. We will not participate in the auction,” he continued.
Ismael emphasized that players’ contracts are not determined solely by financial considerations.
“It’s also about finding the right players who fit our philosophy and mindset. It’s not just about money,” he added.
Denis was eventually loaned to Istanbul Basaksehir for a season, but he still failed to score in his first four games with the Turkish team.
