Gianfranco Zola has told Watford striker Troy Deeney to focus on his football and not the transfer speculation surrounding his future.

Zola yesterday reiterated the club had not received any bids for the Championship’s top goalscorer “as far as he was aware”.

Deeney has been linked with a few Premier League clubs in recent weeks, with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Fulham and Hull City mentioned.

Zola admitted last week clubs are likely to be looking at the striker and that the Golden Boys would have to consider any offers.

But the Hornets head coach said he hoped and expected Deeney to stay at Vicarage Road.

The Italian did have some advice for the striker after the draw at Reading; stressing the importance of focusing on his performance and not the increased speculation.

Zola said: “The situation is that we don’t have anything [bids] and I don’t want to talk about it.

“I would love to see Troy focus on the game rather than the rumours around. I expect more than he offered today [against Reading].”

When asked if he felt Deeney was distracted by the transfer talk, Zola replied: “No, I’m not saying that. But there are a lot of rumours and I would like him to keep his head on what he has to do.

“If something happens then it happens. That is not his main concern right now; he has to keep his concentration because even for a quality player like him it would become difficult.”