What happened: Omar Touré is set to join Watford on a free transfer from Heidenheim, with a decision reached inside 24 hours. The move follows talks that had advanced with Udinese, the other club inside the same ownership group, before the player was pointed toward England.

Why it matters: Watford and Udinese both sit under the Pozzo family's multi-club ownership, letting the group route the defender to Hertfordshire rather than Serie A. Landing a defender on a free deal adds backline depth at no transfer fee, a low-risk piece of business as Watford build their squad.

What to watch: Attention now turns to finalizing personal terms and completing the paperwork on the free transfer.