Although he wouldn’t talk about them by name, the signings of striker Daniel Jebbison and defender Kevin Keben were pretty much confirmed by Tom Cleverley this afternoon.

Jebbison is currently at Bournemouth having joined them from Sheffield United earlier in the summer.

The Cherries always planned to loan him back out, but the move has been delayed as they seek to replace Dominic Solanke, who was sold to Tottenham.

Jebbison, 21, is likely to be in the south coast side’s squad for their game with Newcastle on Sunday, so nothing concrete will happen before then.

Keben, meanwhile, is due to complete a permanent move from Toulouse this week.

The Cameroonian defender has played 23 times for the French side and, at only 20, is rated very highly.

“You don’t like to comment too much on other people’s players,” said Cleverley.

“I understand that everyone has games this weekend and I don’t want to speak out of turn, but we are close on a couple of players that you know the names of – one at the top end of the pitch, and another one who is a centre back that we’re really close on as well.

“Both players would come in and improve the squad and add something that we maybe haven’t got.

“They both have pace – I’m not saying we haven’t got that – but they are both quick and physical players.

“But I’m not naïve enough now to say they are super close, until they are confirmed.”

The Watford head coach made it clear that both players have been on Watford’s radar for some time, and are not late punts before the transfer window closes.

“We identified our targets really early in the window, pretty much straight after the Middlesbrough game at the end of last season,” he said.

“Then you have to work towards trying to execute them.

“It has been a bit of a moving landscape at times but these are two players that I respect who I think can add to us.

“I don’t want to speak out of turn until they’re Watford players though.”

As two come in, at least one seems to be heading the other way as midfielder Yaser Asprilla is said to be joining Girona, who finished third in La Liga last season and consequently qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

Earlier today, Asprilla was pictured on a private jet said to be heading to Spain with his agent Jonathan Herrera – although quite where that leaves Synerjoy Soccer, who also claim to represent the player, remains to be seen.

 

“It’s not confirmed, and like anything in football it’s not confirmed until it is confirmed,” Cleverley smiled.

“He continues to train well, and he’s not been a burden on the environment, but he’s also a player I will continue not to use because I want players that are fully committed and focussed.

“That one is the furthest down the line of the potential outgoings, but it’s definitely not confirmed yet.”

After last week’s win over Stoke, Cleverely said he didn’t expect Wes Hoedt to leave – but that may have changed.

“Wes is a little bit more uncertain, and it’s something that I’ll pick up again next week,” admitted the head coach.

“Last week I said that I’d be more confident he stays, but maybe the balance has tipped a little bit.

“Again there is no real news on that until I can actually confirm something.”

Even with the upcoming signing of Keben, the heart of the defence is still an area Cleverley is looking to recruit in.

“I think centre back is a position where we need strength in numbers,” said the Watford boss.

“I was pleased to see that James Morris could be an option there, because he’s intelligent and always in the right position.

“He ticks a lot boxes. I don’t think he would be an option in a back two, but as a left-sided centre back in a three he’s emerged as a more than capable option.

“Maybe he has helped answer our problems, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to try and bring in another centre back.

“Depending on outgoings, it might be two.”

With Asprilla halfway out of the door, Hoedt loitering near to it and Imran Louza potentially leaving, would that be the end of the departures?

“Hopefully there would be no more outs because I think we’re in a really good moment at the minute and the squad has a really good feel about it.

“Potentially there could be one more in as well, but let’s focus on Derby and then try to be productive in the market next week.”