Valerien Ismael and Watford have a new No.9, and the head coach is clearly happy to be welcoming Mileta Rajovic to the club.
The question of who would fill the vacancy in the squad list, and when the right player would become available, has been asked at every press conference this summer and been the hottest topic of debate among fans.
Now Rajovic has been confirmed as a Hornet, and he goes straight into the squad for Sunday’s game against Blackburn at Vicarage Road (12pm kick-off).
The added bonus is the 24-year-old Dane was already halfway through the Swedish season so arrives fit and ready to go - he played for Kalmar as recently as last Sunday.
What was it that made him the right choice for Watford?
“I think he suits the profile of what we expect from that position,” Ismael explained.
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“He’s young, hungry, he has a good body, very strong and technically he is very good. He scores goals. He knows exactly where the goal is and can link up with other players.”
The fact Rajovic is match fit and has played more games this summer than any of his new teammates was also a key factor according to the Watford head coach.
“The main thing is he was in the middle of his season in Sweden, so he has momentum with him,” said Ismael.
“He’s already got seven goals this season and he will be available to us straight away, and that was already in our thoughts.
“We were already convinced about him, but that was another very important point for me to have a player who is available to play straight away.
“If you can’t find a player who is ready to play then you have to look at the loan market or free agents, and then it can be difficult to have the player ready.
“I think we have found the right solution for us, a player who was in the middle of his season who is ready to go.
“He gives us that option alongside Bayo and so we now have very good competition in that position.
“We’re all pleased that we now have options.”
Of course, when someone or something arrives that has been much anticipated, there is always expectation. Ismael is ready to manage that though.
“He is a young player who now has the possibility to take the next step in his career, and it’s a big step to a big club,” he said.
“This is an excellent environment for him, and now it’s about having patience with him and to give him what he needs.
“We need to understand him, and this is something on my part. He needs to be integrated in our way of playing and the method we used.
“We will do that now that I have the time to work with him on the pitch.”
It needed a deeper dig than usual to find all the details about Rajovic compared to some of the strikers the club were inaccurately linked with, so how did they find a young Dane playing in Sweden?
“It was teamwork in the club,” said Ismael.
“Since day one when I signed we have all worked closely together.
“It was for the club to understand exactly the profile of player I needed, and I also needed to understand the club and what it was possible to do.
“Week after week we got a better understanding and for sure starting the season and playing Championship games allowed us more to understand what we need.
“In this case we had to be patient at some point, and always believe that you will have the solution.
“The profile of this player was exactly what the club wanted and exactly what I wanted. It’s easier when everyone is on the same page for players.”
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