Watford FC could make millions from late-window transfer decision | OneFootball

Watford rejected offers for exciting forward Kwadwo Baah on deadline day

Kwadwo Baah emerged as a wanted man in the dying embers of the winter transfer window, but Watford's decision to stand firm and rebuff enquiries made for his services could well pay dividends deeper into the future.

It has been a mixed campaign for the Hornets, who have perhaps exceeded expectations by remaining in some form of contention for a finish inside the Championship's top six.

That is certainly a possibility for Tom Cleverley as he has his side in 10th, but results have been tricky as of late with Saturday's 1-0 win at Middlesbrough representing the first set of three points after four defeats from the previous five, while the continued disconnect between the club's supporters and owners, the Pozzos, means it's never plain-sailing at Vicarage Road.

Nonetheless, there have been some green shoots of real positivity.

One of those, of course, is the emergence of Baah, who has caught the eye this season after making the transition into Cleverley's first-team after spending the opening-half of the previous term on loan with League One side Burton Albion.

Baah first joined Watford from Rochdale all the way back in June 2021 but has had to wait patiently for opportunities. Indeed, he had not made his debut until this season, having also endured time on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Kwadwo Baah's 24/25 campaign for Watford

The 22-year-old has been something of a beneficiary from the departure of Yaser Asprilla, who starred last term to earn his move to LaLiga with Girona.

Most comfortable playing wide-right of a front three, Baah has operated in a multitude of positions this season, including the attacking midfield role held by Asprilla last time out.

With that there has been natural trials and tribulations, but Baah has largely stood up to the challenges in his way to seize his long-term breakthrough into the first-team fold.

The versatile attacker has featured in 25 of Watford's 33 league outings, making 15 starts. Of course, he has not taken to the pitch in roughly a month after tearing his thigh muscle in the 2-1 home defeat to Preston North End on January 21, and is not expected to return anytime soon in what has thrown an undeniable blow to Watford's play-off ambitions.

Baah is blessed with bags of pace and trickery which has enabled him to run many second-tier full-backs ragged this season, while his return of four goals and three assists points to a developing final ball that should improve further in due course.

As one would expect, the former England and Germany youth international is still raw, but the decision to keep him at the club could prove to be an inspired one in light of his long-term potential and significant future resale value, which could far outstrip what the Hornets may have collected in the most recent window.

Watford FC could profit from rejecting Kwadwo Baah transfer advances

As per Fabrizio Romano, Watford rejected a proposal for Baah, who is deemed as not for sale, from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

The valuation of Wolfsburg's enquiry remains unclear, but it could pale in comparison to the sort of fee which Watford may expect to collect further down the line.

That's because, at 22, he has plenty of time to progress further and become a top-bracket Championship wide-man.

He's not quite there just yet but has shown real signs of promise and potential, and Watford should be commended for resisting the kind of temptation which has often seen fellow Championship clubs cash in prematurely in similar situations.

Their ability to play hardball and turn down potentially-enticing offers was aided by the shrewdness undertaken to tie Baah down to a fresh five-year contract earlier on in the season, and it's hard to see how these two big decisions on his long-term future will not come to fruition in the years to come.