'Medical Booked': Watford to sign striker who once 'terrorised' Man Utd after West Ham links

Watford have scheduled a medical for striker Emmanuel Dennis ahead of a potential free transfer to sign the player for a third time in the last four years.

The 27-year-old is available on a free transfer having seen his contract mutually terminated by Premier League side Nottingham Forest in August 2025. Dennis joined Forest for a reported £10 million in August 2022 but never cemented a role in the team, making just 25 appearances over three years.

Dennis spent the back end of last season on loan with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, making seven appearances but failing to score a goal. He faced Watford at Ewood Park in April, making a cameo appearance from the bench.

Watford book Emmanuel Dennis medical

The striker is a player that the Hertfordshire outfit knows well. Dennis scored 10 goals for Watford in the Premier League season of 2021/22 and returned to Vicarage Road on loan from Nottingham Forest for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Providing an update on Dennis’ proposed third return to Watford, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph wrote on X: “UPDATE: Emmanuel Dennis will undergo a medical and fitness tests with Watford tomorrow. No deal has been reached yet, but talks ongoing over 1.5yr + 1 contract. #WFC also want to make sure he is the right fit for the dressing room and new boss Javi Gracia.”

Watford parted ways with Paulo Pezzolano last week after just 10 matches in charge and turned to Gracia once again. The Spaniard has not previously worked with Dennis at Vicarage Road, leaving his previous spell in 2019, prior to the striker’s arrival two years later.

Dennis labelled ‘very talented player’ by Claudio Ranieri

The Hornets, who sit 11th in the Championship, will hope to see an immediate impact from Dennis and some of the form he had shown at the club in previous stints. Dennis’ most memorable performance in a Watford shirt arguably came in the 4-1 win over Manchester United in November 2021, when he terrorised the opposition and dictated the game with a goal and two assists.

Speaking shortly after that match, former Watford boss Claudio Ranieri said: “Dennis is a very talented player. He’s fast, has good skill, always runs straight to the goal – I love these kinds of players.”

The Daily Mail had claimed that West Ham had ‘tentative talks’ over a deal for Dennis prior to the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo at the London Stadium. The Premier League side are struggling for firepower this season with £27 million man Niclas Fullkrug now injured.

However, Hammers News quote a source from inside the club as having rubbished that interest. The source said: “There is zero truth to the Dennis claims. His agent is trying to push him on us, but the manager and the club have no interest whatsoever.”

In other news, West Ham must get serious to sign £22m Chelsea star as well as Fulham 'risk' who Nuno loves - opinion.