From Bolaji Oyegunle, London. Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores is not worried about losing top scorer Odion Ighalo in January.
Ighalo has been a major factor in Watford’s success this season and his 10 goals in the Premier League are likely to have attracted interest from other clubs.
But Flores today insisted the 26-year-old Nigerian will not be leaving in the forthcoming window if offers comes in for him.
“With Ighalo and [Troy] Deeney, my expectation for sure is we are going to keep them,” he said.
“From the meetings I have had with the owners we have not talked about the possibility of these players leaving in the middle of the season.”
Watford are just four points off the top four ahead of their game against Liverpool on Sunday but Flores insists they are not getting carried away. The Hornets lie seventh after three straight wins and their achievement of 25 points from the opening 16 games should not be downplayed.
Their next three games after Liverpool are against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City and while Flores is keen to manage expectations, he also insists Watford are ambitious.
“We need to keep humble because it is important not to underestimate any team,” he said. “It is important to know what our possibilities are otherwise it could be very dangerous. Our target us the same, to keep our status. At the same time, we want to be ambitious and enjoy the experience.
“At the moment it is important to focus on the challenge of Liverpool and keep the positive energy for the matches coming up. We are happy with the development of the team and the players but we are thinking about progressing and improving.”
Flores would not be drawn on reports linking Watford with a move for Roma winger Juan Iturbe and admitted he is surprised Chelsea sacked Jose Mourinho.
“Jose Mourinho is one the best managers in the last 15 years,” he said. “I was a bit surprised. To lose him is not good for the Premier League.”
