"Good fit" - Watford backed to sign new target amid Wesley Hoedt uncertainty | OneFootball

Cooper has been linked with a move to Vicarage Road, after being released by Leeds at the end of last season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Liam Cooper has been made a target for Watford this summer, after he was released by Leeds United at the end of last season, having spent nearly ten years in Yorkshire.

Tom Cleverley has enquired about a deal for the centre-back, who made 284 appearances for Leeds in his time at Elland Road. According to Leeds Live, Watford are one of several clubs to have taken a look at Cooper, who will now be anxiously waiting for a move, with the new Championship campaign just days away.

Blackburn Roversadmitted at the end of July that talks had slowed between the two parties.

Watford will be looking for more second tier experience after a majorly disappointing 2023/24, in which they had their lowest finish since the 2009/10 campaign, when they finished 16th in the Championship.

Cooper is a solid option for Watford

Cooper featured 15 times in the league for Leeds last season, the fewest appearances he has made in a campaign since his transfer from Chesterfield in August 2014. A combination of a foot injury at the start, as well as impressive performances from Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu forced him to watch on from the sideline.

Nevertheless, he has not forgotten how to perform, and can be utilised by the Hornets if a deal is agreed.

FLW's Watford Fan Pundit, Justin Beattie, accepts that the club cannot attract the stars that they have done in the past but will be able to get the best out of the centre-back.

He said:

"So, if we're going to go for good freebies, we could do a lot worse than go for this player."

Possibility of Hoedt deal failure could end Watford's interest

Watford do have options at centre-back, but, Dutch defender Wesley Hoedt has been linked with a move away from Vicarage Road.

Turkish side Trabzonspor have had a major interest in the 30-year-old who made 48 appearances for the Hornets in all compeitions last season, however, a knee injury against Wycombe Wanderers has cast doubts over the transfer being completed, as per Turkish outlet Haber Anlik.

James believes that although there is the possibility that Hoedt may be stuck at Watford for the time being, Cooper could still be a decent addition: "It looks as though this might have been set up to be a like-for-like for Wesley Hoedt, who was rumoured to be going off to Trabzonspor, but that may now not happen as he got injured during a pre-season friendly.