Watford summer transfer dossier: Big spending needed to establish Hornets in Premier League

Watford have long been seen as the distant third team owned by Italian businessman Gino Pozzo, behind Udinese and Spanish side Granada. Promotion to the Premier League, however, may well have turned them from the neglected step-sister to the belle of the ball.

The appointment of former Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Benfica boss Quique Sanchez Flores signals an intention to make The Hornets Pozzo's focal point. His strategy has always been based around buying bargain players, such as current Arsenal standout Alexis Sanchez, and selling them on for lucrative prices after they have impressed for one of his sides.

The £120m reportedly available for spending by Watford this summer should go a long way towards ensuring that the side does not repeat their previous two disastrous seasons in the top flight, both of which saw them relegated easily.

Business so far

Sanchez Flores has replaced Slavisa Jokanovic, who got the Hertfordshire side promoted last season, after the latter left in a contractual disagreement. Sanchez Flores is Watford's fifth manager of the past 12 months. The club have already signed defender Sebastian Prodl from Werder Bremen as well as bagging former Steaua Bucharest goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis to serve as back-up to Heurelho Gomes.

Gomes himself, 34, has committed his future to the Vicarage Road outfit with a new deal that expires in 2018.

What they need

Sanchez Flores has a busy summer ahead of him if he is to recruit players with enough top-tier experience to establish Watford in the Premier League.

Troy Deeney and Udinese loanee duo Odion Ighalo and Matej Vydra scored 57 goals between them in the Championship, but most observers feel they would struggle to replicate those stats in the top flight. A proven goalscorer at the top level is a must.

The Spanish manager will also be looking to bolster his backline and central midfield. His knowledge of La Liga will come in handy when it comes to finding bargains, with most Spanish sides looking to part ways with their stars in order to balance the books.

Who could join

A number of players from both Udinese (including highly touted full-back Ali Adnan) and Granada could move on loan to Vicarage Road to make Watford's entry to the Premier League a smoother one.

Watford have also been linked with Tottenham's wantaway Benjamin Stambouli, Lyon's Henri Bedimo and Juventus's Mauricio Isla, who spent last season on loan at QPR.

Right-back Juanfran signed a deal to move to Watford over a year ago, but has spent the past season at Deportivo La Coruna.

Who could leave

Sanchez Flores will need to assess his squad before making a decision on which players will not be able to make the step up to top flight football.

The club may also lose some loanees back to their parent clubs, but Ighalo and Vydra are both expected to stay.

What the manager has said

Captain Troy Deeney said he expects the club to sign four or five players with Premier League experience this summer.

"Speaking to the owner I feel they will be bringing in some lads with Premier League experience. It is not going to be a case like Burnley's, where said 'we are going to stick with you lot [who secured promotion]'. Sentiment won't be held by our owner. He is very much 'you are in the Premier League now so get the job done.'

"I think there will probably be four or five lads coming in with Premier League experience and then there are people like myself who are absolutely buzzing to be there [for the first time].

"So hopefully there will be that mix of people who know what they are doing and those with the silly ideas like myself, running around making it hard for people. Hopefully it blends well."