Watford interested in shock move for Serie A striker, Premier League team also enthusiastic News: The72 – Football League News

Watford have become interested in Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca, along with West Ham United, as reported by Rai News Italy.

Watford is under the bar again directed by Javi Gracia and are quickly climbing up the championship table after a generally unpredictable start to the season.

The performances were not always convincing, but the results were positive: the Hornets were undefeated in their last six games. Four wins in that run have moved Watford up to sixth place and firmly in the play-offs heading into January.

With Watford in a very good position to challenge for promotion this season, the January window could be huge for the club. Rumors of targets are starting to emerge and the latest one is particularly exciting.

Rai News Italy report that Watford is taking a stake in Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca. West Ham United are also interested in the striker as they look to stay in the top flight.

Lucca is currently on loan to Napoli, but has an obligation to buy. If he wants to move in January, Napoli would first make the deal permanent and try to sell him for a profit.

His rivals for number nine at Napoli both have history in England. Rasmus Hojland has joined the club on loan from Manchester United, while former United, Chelsea, Everton and West Brom striker Romelu Lukaku is also at the Italian giants.

Watford focuses on Lorenzo Lucca’s career to date

He started his youth career at local clubs in Turin such as CBS Scuola Calcio and Torino’s academy, before being released and joining Atletico Torino, where he made his senior debut at the age of 16 in Italy’s sixth tier, scoring twice. In 2017 he moved to Vicenza in Serie C and made his professional debut the following year.

He later joined Palermo in Serie D in 2020, signing his first professional contract and impressing with double-digit goals following their return to Serie C. His real breakthrough came at Pisa in Serie B during the 2021-2022 season, where he scored early goals before spending the 2022-2023 campaign on loan at Ajax in the Eredivisie.

Lucca returned to Italy on loan with Udinese in 2023, becoming a regular starter and earning a permanent move in 2024. He impressed in Serie A before being loaned out by Udinese to Napoli in July 2025 for a fee of €9 million with a purchase obligation worth €26 million plus bonuses.

Although he struggled for form and scored just one goal in 18 appearances by the end of the year. At international level, he received his first senior call-up in 2024 but later withdrew due to injury.

Link from Udinese to help Watford again?

Watford’s links with Udinese are well known. Although the Pozzo family no longer owns the club, the ties between the two still exist.

Three players came from Udinese to Watford this summer, one permanently and two on loan. Vivaldo Semedo made the switch permanently, with James Abankwah and Luca Kjerrumgaard the others to make the move.

Lorenzo Lucca’s stats for Udinese

With Lucca being a player with very high value and high demand, Watford will find it difficult to secure his services. Perhaps his ties with Udinese could convince him to make the move.