Xisco Munoz's Watford side are considering a move for Yakou Meite this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that the Hornets, as well as Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, are keeping a close eye on the Reading centre-forward ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

It is reported that Veljko Paunovic's side value the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international at around £5 million and could be tempted into cashing in on the striker this summer in order to balance the books at the Madejski Stadium.

Bye-bye Gray

Since joining Reading from Paris Saint-Germain B back in 2016, Meite has gone on to make 125 appearances for the club, scoring 42 goals and providing five assists along the way.

The striker has bagged impressive returns in the Championship on a consistent basis over the past three seasons, scoring 12 goals and providing one assist in the club's 2018/19 campaign, netting 13 goals and registering two assists in the 2019/20 season and bagging 11 goals and providing one assist over just 25 appearances in Reading's most recent jaunt.

When comparing the 25-year-old's most recent haul to those of the Watford centre-forwards, Meite's returns better all three of Joao Pedro, Troy Deeney and Andre Gray, who scored nine, seven and five Championship goals respectively last season.

As such, the argument can easily be made that the £1.8 million-rated forward would be an upgrade on Xisco Munoz's current attacking arsenal, although, with Gray reported to be on a whopping £70,000-per-week at Vicarage Road, it would be highly advisable for Cristiano Giaretta to do all he can to move the 29-year-old on this summer and replace him with the Reading hitman.

And, with Watford facing the challenge of retaining their status as a Premier League club come the end of next season, a consistent goalscorer will go a long way to helping achieve this feat - something that Meite - whom the former Reading manager Paul Clement dubbed an "exciting" player - has very much proven he is.

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