Watford boss Walter Mazzarri is keen to strengthen his defensive ranks with Sweden international Pontus Jansson, according to reports in the 25-year-old's homeland.

Jansson, who joined Torino in 2014, is currently on loan at Leeds and has wowed Whites' fans with his performances at Elland Road, alerting Watford to the centre-back's potential, reports Swedish newspaper Expressen.

The defender, capped eight times by his country, has expressed his desire to turn his stay in Yorkshire permanent, but may be lured by the bright lights of Premier League and a move to Hertfordshire.

Mazzarri has proven loathe to use summer recruit Christian Kabasele in the absence of the injured Craig Cathcart and Sebastian Prodl in recent weeks, and he has played only an hour of league football all season.

Any wish to bolster the Hornets' defensive ranks would come as little surprise with that in mind, after Mazzarri reverted to an ineffectual back four at Liverpool yesterday instead of starting the Belgian or free transfer Adrian Mariappa.