Sources close to Watford FC say that there have been no concrete bids from Newcastle United for Northern Ireland international Craig Cathcart.
Circulating rumours
Reports that Rafa Benitez had sanctioned a £7million bid for the dependable centre half surfaced this week after Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini opted to return to his native Argentina to sign for San Lorenzo.
Cathcart will definitely be a player that the new Hornets head coach Walter Mazzarri will want to hang onto as he played all but three of the clubs’ Premier League games last term. His consistency earned him a credible 3rd place in the supporter’s player of the year awards behind skipper Troy Deeney and top scorer Odion Ighalo.
Fresh from French trip
His successful season was rewarded with the selection for the Northern Ireland squad for the European Championship. He played all four games in France, which culminated in a brave 1-0 defeat to Wales in the last 16.
A bid from the newly relegated side seems increasingly unlikely however, as Benitez is already well underway with task of bulking up his defensive ranks. Atletico Madrid right back Jesus Gamez is flying into Newcastle for a medical today while there is also strong interest in Blackburn Rovers captain Grant Hanley.
If those two players are added to the back line to go alongside Daryl Janmaat, Paul Dummett, Chancel Mbemba and Jamaal Lascelles then it looks Newcastle will have a strong enough defence to mount a promotion challenge without the signing of Cathcart.
This is news that will undoubtedly please the hierarchy at Vicarage Road who will definitely not want to part company with one of the most solid professionals at the club.
There is also the debate over whether Cathcart would want to leave. With regular Premier League football and his international stock on the rise it can be strongly argued that Benitez and Newcastle are the only club that could persuade him to drop down a level.