The player would do fine for us. He's better than Riederwald, younger than McArthur and more suited to the current system than Schlupp. Although I'd not expect him to take us to a higher level, Hughes wouldn't let us down either.

More to the point, the players price seems like it might be very attractive in relation to his value, and that's a big consideration in itself.

In the same way that Palace need to ensure our incomings match or exceed our outgoings, so too do we need to ensure the squad value is as great or greater than its cost. This increasingly wasn't the case in the last few years, and it boxed us in terribly.

One way to develop the value of the squad in relation to its cost is to grow another AWB of course, but its also important to take advantage of situations like the one Hughes is in. He'll never play for Real Madrid but that's not the point. If he signed a new three or four year Watford contract tomorrow, he'd immediately be worth at least twice the figures we're talking about at the moment, maybe three times. Right now, his price is possibly far lower than his value, and as a trading company we can't afford to ignore opportunities like that.

It's vital to go all out occasionally and sign good players for vacant positions, like when we paid full market rate for Guehi and Andersen. We can only do that once or twice though, and will generally always need to box clever and find bargains.

A 'bargain' is usually a low price for a player that you'd have been prepared to pay far more for, because he's so vital. It can, however, also mean a very good price on a player you wouldn't have signed for a higher price, because you could probably live without him if you had to.

Even if we know full well that if Hughes did have three years left on his Watford contact we wouldn't even consider paying his transfer price, the fact is that he doesn't, and that changes everything.

My heart and head cry out for a right-back that can pass and right-winger that can cross. Midfield with Eze, Luka and Olise soon back - why add to that?

Good post BTP but I question whether we paid full value for Andersen (we certainly did for Guehi). I thought we got Andersen at a bargain price.

My heart and head cry out for a right-back that can pass and right-winger that can cross. Midfield with Eze, Luka and Olise soon back - why add to that?