Defender Joao Ferreira is undertaking pre-season training with Udinese.

The Watford Observer understands the Hornets have given the 23-year-old Portuguese permission to spend time over in Italy.

Kosta Runjaic was recently appointed manager of the Serie A club, taking over from Fabio Cannavaro who kept them in the top-flight after a season of struggle.

It’s believed that Runjaic intends to use this period to get a closer look at Ferreira and decide if he wants him – although whether that would be a loan or a permanent transfer is unclear.

The defender’s contract at Vicarage Road doesn’t end until summer 2027.

Udinese have based themselves in the Austrian town of Bad Kleinkirchheim, where they will spend a two-week training camp before heading back to Italy on July 31.

It’s the Watford Observer’s understanding that any decision Udinese make about Ferreira will happen by the end of that two-week training camp.

Ferreira spent last season on loan at the Hornets sister club where he made 37 league and cup appearances, 19 of them as a starter.

He cost Watford some £2m in the ill-fated January 2023 transfer window, and made only five appearances during the second half of that season.

Udinese named Ferreira as part of their squad of players that reported back for pre-season on July 8, and the defender has not been seen at London Colney this summer.

He played the first 45 minutes of a 5-0 friendly win over Slovenian side Bilje, where former Hornet Christian Kabasele was among the scorers.

In midweek, Ferreira also started as Udinese chalked up another pre-season win, this time beating Croatian side Istra 4-1.

As well as Kabasele, other former Hornets that featured were goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Domingos Quina, Hassane Kamara and Isaac Success.

Matheus Martins was an unused substitute in the game with Istra.