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Watford going all out to sign this 28-year-old Brazilian defender would make all the difference for Gracia

Why Watford should go all out to sign Juan Jesus from Roma in January

Back in 2016, a report from the Calciomercato had claimed Watford were interested in signing Juan Jesus, who was then playing for Inter Milan.

However, a deal didn’t go through and the defender joined Inter Milan’s Serie A rivals AS Roma initially on loan during the 2016 summer transfer window. A year later, AS Roma signed the Brazilian permanently.

Juan Jesus, 28, hasn’t really been able to nail down a place in Roma’s starting XI ever since arriving at the club. He made only 20 Serie A appearances last season as Roma missed out on a place in the Champions League.

The left-footed defender has started just one game this season under new manager Paulo Fonseca, who has preferred Gianluca Mancini, Federico Fazio and on-loan Manchester United defender Chris Smalling ahead of him.

With the four-cap Brazilian international struggling to get into Roma’s starting XI, Watford must look to take advantage of the situation and reignite their interest when the transfer window reopens.

Watford have endured a miserable start to the 2019/20 campaign. They remain winless and currently have the second-worst defence in the division, conceding 21 goals in their opening nine top-flight games.

The Hornets’ current fortunes are of stark contrast to last season, with former manager Javi Gracia guiding the club to 11th place finish and the FA Cup final.

However, with Quique Sanchez Flores at the helm, Watford have an uphill task to avoid the drop from the top-flight. And for that to happen, Flores needs new players in January, especially in the defence. The current defenders have looked woefully out of depth and there is a clear need for defensive reinforcements.

To that end, Juan Jesus would be a good fit at Vicarage Road. Jesus is a versatile defender who can feature both at left-back or centre-back, with the majority of his displays coming in the middle of the defence for Roma.

Standing at 6ft 1in tall, the Brazilian isn’t the most physical of defenders but he is more than capable of winning aerial duels and keeping strong forwards at bay.

He is a solid, robust all-round defender whose proficiency in carrying the ball forward with intent and versatility would make him a solid option for the struggling Watford side.

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Jesus would offer leadership at the back and an ability to help the Hornets build attacks from deep due to his capability of comfortably bringing the ball out of defence. At 28, the former Inter Milan man is at the peak of his powers and possesses the qualities to make an instant impact for Flores’ side.

Verdict

Watford could really do with an experienced player like Jesus in their squad as the defender will add much-needed quality to their defensive ranks. However, the Hornets will need to make a massive offer if they are to tempt Roma into selling their defender in January.