The name of Czech striker Matej Vydra appeared in these, and many other Spurs related pages prior to Watford’s Championship final at Wembley with the suggestion that the player would be looking at a Premiership move if his side failed to win on the day.
The Hornets subsequently lost but the links went quiet and if you listen to supporters of the Hertfordshire club they will tell you that Watford’s Italian connections – Vydra is on loan from Udinese – would keep him in England’s second tier for another season.
However, the story has picked up momentum again with the player’s agent claiming that his striker is unwilling to continue in the Championship and is keen to take the step up.
“I can’t imagine him playing Championship again right now,” Ondrej Chovanec told the Evening Standard.
“We discussed it with the boy and he would like to play with the top players on the top level. It’s difficult because he was very happy at Watford, but if you get the opportunity to play Premier League or German Bundesliga would you say no?”
“He is the number one Czech international striker and he would like to play the same level competition as Petr Cech is doing.”
Chovanec went on to claim that Udinese want their player to develop at Vicarage Road but if these comments have any grounding, it seems that client and agent feel that the time is right for the 21 year old to move on. Vydra scored 20 times in 41 league games for Watford next season but is he ready and would he be a good fit at White Hart Lane?
Would be too much of a risk as main striker, but as under-study/europa league filler to 2 big names it might be a possibility for the right price. Premier league history is unfortunately littered with championship strikers that failed to make the step up.
Great player for the future but is very inconsistent, injury prone and from what Almunia was saying (lazy in training) He is only 21 and needs possibly another season or two in the championship. I fear that the his agent is looking after himself more than the player! The step up to the Prem is far to early and it would be a wast to see him keeping the bench warm.
Although 21, due to serious injury, last season was Vydra’s first full senior season.
When fit and on form he looked way too good for the Championship. However, his form and application waned around the time of the Jan transfer and never really returned. Also, he struggled to find answers when subject to extra defensive attention.
All-in-all I think he’d be too much of a gamble for a top-half EPL club to pay around £10m for, and with 2 years left on contract, the Pozzos wouldn’t sell now for less than that.
It would probably be in Vydra’s long-term interests to sign for Watford (with a buy-out clause inserted) and stay developing under Zola for at least another season.