Zola: Linked with Hornets hotseat

Watford confirmed on Monday that a deal has been agreed in principle for the Pozzo family to take over the Championship club from current owner Laurence Bassini.

The Pozzo family already owns Serie A side Udinese and Primera Liga club Granada, and is now ready to take a stake in English football.

Reports in Italy have claimed that the new owners will install former West Ham United boss Zola as the Hornets' manager to replace Sean Dyche.

However, while Pozzo appeared to suggest that his fellow Italian could be involved in the project, he did not want to expand on rumours Zola could become Watford boss.

"There are contacts with Watford, so we'll see," Pozzo told gazzetta.it.

"Gianfranco Zola enters in the project, but it's too early to talk about it."

Dyche took charge of first-team affairs at Watford last summer following Malky Mackay's departure to Cardiff City and he led the club to a respectable 11th-placed finish in the Championship.