The experienced duo of Tom Cleverley and Craig Cathcart will be listed as ‘released’ when the EFL share details of all member clubs’ out-of-contract players this weekend – but that may not be the end of the story.

Although Watford have officially released the pair with their contracts due to end on June 30, they have confirmed that discussions with both – as well as Dan Gosling whose season was cut short by a serious Achilles' injury – are continuing.

Technical Director Ben Manga said: “We must continue to assess what is best to support our Head Coach Valerien Ismael so it is important that we do not close off any options right now, while it is still early in the summer.”

The other players whose contracts are ending, striker Britt Assomobalonga and midfielder Leandro Bacuna, are definitely being released and will not stay at Vicarage Road.

There has been much debate and conjecture among fans as to why Watford are one of only two clubs in the EFL (Cardiff, who only appointed a new manager at the weekend, being the other) that have not shared any details of which players have been retained or released.

In a story on the official website, the club said that “all parties have agreed that there should be no rush in determining what – if any – future any one of them might have with the club” in relation to Cleverley, Cathcart and Gosling.

Cathcart is the longest-serving player at the club, having joined from Blackpool in June 2014 and has since made more than 250 appearances.

Former England midfielder Cleverley has been at Vicarage Road for seven years since joining from Everton in 2017. He’s clocked up more than 150 outings though, like Cathcart, both had loan spells with the Hornets before joining permanently.

Gosling’s name will not be on the EFL list when it is released as his contract was cancelled earlier this season due to the severity of his injury and the chance that then provided to name a different player in the Hornets’ 25-man squad submitted at the end of January 2023.

However, the former Newcastle and Bournemouth midfielder has been continuing his rehabilitation at London Colney, and the club are clearly keen to look at keeping the versatile and experienced player at the club.