He has been pictured in a private jet and walking out of an airport, but Yaser Asprilla hasn’t been involved in Watford’s pre-season programme, and he won’t feature at Millwall on the opening day of the season next week.

Head coach Tom Cleverley was able to confirm that the Colombian international would not be involved at all at The Den, and that he wasn’t expecting Asprilla back for at least another week.

He stopped short of saying he didn’t think he’d ever see the midfielder again but admitted the matter was out of his hands.

However, in the meantime Asprilla’s agent Jonathan Herrera has apparently being taking the player on a whistle-stop tour of Europe with the pair reportedly seen in France for talks with Rennes as recently as Thursday.

Asprilla has also been linked with moves to Porto, Girona and now Leicester City in the last three days.

“We all know there is a lot of speculation around Yaser,” said Cleverley.

“He wouldn’t be due to join the team for training until the next seven to ten days anyway because of his late return after the Copa America final.

“There's speculation, there’s talks ongoing, so let’s see.”

 

With the Hornets having spent only £230,000 on Rocco Vata’s compensation payment to Celtic so far this summer, the club’s budget for transfers seems pretty thin.

But with the reports suggesting any move for Asprilla would be worth upwards of £25m, that should give the club’s transfer coffers a decent boost.

“I’m sure it would – but nothing is done until it’s done with Yaser,” said Cleverley.

“There is a lot of speculation around him, and I don’t think I would stop him or try to get in his way from going on to a higher standard of football.

“But I’m sure that we would be able to reinvest some of that money if it did materialise.”

 

When asked what percentage chance there was of Asprilla ever playing for Watford again, Cleverley said: “That is out of my hands. I honestly don’t know.

“All I do know is he won’t be available for the Millwall game.”