Why Maduka Okoye is in line to be the youngest goalkeeper in Watford owner Pozzo’s era

In January, Maduka Okoye signed for Watford within the Championship however was loaned again to Sparta Rotterdam the place he helped the crew escape relegation and left on a excessive

On the finish of the 2021/22 season, Okoye returned to his new membership and has been tipped to change into the membership’s new no 1 after the exit of Ben Foster, the membership’s former goalkeeper.

Okoye, 22, is highly-rated and price an enormous sum from a Watford perspective for a goalkeeper at £5m.

Already a full Nigerian worldwide, the Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper has already teamed up with the Hornets the place he’s settling and getting in form forward of the brand new season.

Explaining why Okoye might change into Watford’s youngest no 1 beneath Watford proprietor, Gino Pozzo, The Athletic’s Watford Correspondent, Adam Leventhal wrote;

“It’s a must to return to the years instantly previous the Italian takeover when Scott Loach was in aim to see one other 22-year-old as first selection. Loach value £50,000 from Lincoln Metropolis, Okoye nearer to £5 million from Sparta Rotterdam. These are totally different instances, with a unique strategy — albeit in the identical division.

“Gino Pozzo’s desire was expertise: first Manuel Almunia, then Heurelho Gomes and, extra lately, Ben Foster — all 30-somethings — in between the sticks.

“Having invested closely within the imposing 6ft 5in Nigeria worldwide, who helped Rotterdam battle efficiently to remain within the Eredivisie final season, the expectation is that he’ll begin the opening sport of the season on July 30. If that occurs, there’ll naturally be a ripple impact within the goalkeeper division.

“That may most notably influence the thought technique of Daniel Bachmann. When Okoye’s switch was introduced in January — previous to him spending the second half of the season again within the Netherlands — it was a transparent sign to the Austrian that he was unlikely to be given the possibility to succeed Foster, whose contract was coming to an finish. Behind the scenes, recruiting a brand new primary was excessive on the recruitment division’s precedence listing from final summer season.”