In a move that will surprise many fans, Watford have loaned striker Mileta Rajovic to Danish side Brondby.

The deadline for transfers in Denmark is today (Tuesday September 2) and the forward headed back to his home country earlier today to complete the one-year move.

Watford do have the right to recall the striker should the need arise.

The Watford Observer understands that the Hornets view this as part of Rajovic's development.

It isn't seen as an exit plan, more of a chance for him to come back to Vicarage Road in a year's time having gained more experience.

Although a player that divides supporter opinion, Rajovic has scored goals ever since he arrived at the club from Swedish side Kalmar last summer.

He has already bagged three this season, including the late winner at Millwall on the opening day and then both in the 2-0 victory over Plymouth in the Carabao Cup last week.

He netted 11 times in the 2023/24 campaign, and his exit means that Watford have now lost last season’s top scorer as well as their Player of the Season (Wes Hoedt) and Young Player of the Season (Yaser Asprilla).

However, Rajovic is undoubtedly a player that divided supporter opinion – and although he has found the net there have been many occasions where he has made no impact at all.

Also very telling is his failure to provide one assist since he joined the Hornets – in fact he has only assisted eight times in his entire 222-game career.

There are many fans who would have picked him over Vajoun Bayo this season though, and believe his goalscoring record means he should be in the team.

Yet there are just as many who think his all-round play is not good enough for the Championship and will feel the Hornets have done the right thing.

Whatever your opinion, it means the Hornets are back to just two No.9s, neither of which they actually own.

Loan signing Daniel Jebbison, who has only played 47 hours of senior football and is at Vicarage Road for the season from Bournemouth; and Bayo who veers from the sublime bicycle kick against Derby to the awful lobbed miss at Sheffield United, and has been sold to Udinese who loaned him back for the remainder of the campaign.

Outside of that, the Hornets have the very raw teenager Mamadou Doumbia, who arrived from Mali in the summer and has only made two appearances as a substitute in the Carabao Cup.

In pre-season, Kwadwo Baah played a number of games in the No.9 role but he has looked far more at home as a No.10 or winger.

During last Friday’s transfer deadline day there were rumours that Rajovic could have been joining another club in England, but head coach Tom Cleverley said privately that wouldn’t be happening, and so it proved.

However, some 72 hours later and the big Dane is going back to his home country.

Brondby finished second in the Danish Superliga last season, losing 3-2 at home to AGF on the final day of the campaign to hand the title to Midtjylland by a point.

They were in the Europa Conference League this season, but were knocked out by Legia Warsaw in the third qualifying round last month.

They have sent striker Emmanuel Yeboah out on loan to fellow Superliga side Vejle, and may also allow Ohi Omoijuanfo to leave as well, meaning Rajovic has a clearer path to the team.