Udinese goalkeeper Rafael Romo will join Watford on a short-term loan deal as cover for the suspended Giedrius Arlauskis, the Watford Observer understands.

The 25-year-old Venezuelan gloveman will link up with Quique Sanchez Flores' side whilst summer signing Arlauskis serves a two-match ban which rules him out of Premier League games against Everton and West Bromwich Albion.

Arlauskis, who joined earlier this summer from Steaua Bucaresti, arrived at Vicarage Road with a two-match suspension still to serve from his time in Romania. 

And with Heurelho Gomes and Rene Gilmartin the only other senior goalkeepers on the books at Vicarage Road following Jonathan Bond's switch to Reading, an issue with either player would leave Flores short between the sticks.

Romo is expected to return to Udinese before the Premier League's squad registration cut-off point, which is after the transfer window closes on September 1.

The South American stopper began his career with Atletico de Turen before moving to Venezuelan side Llaneros in 2007.

It was Romo's form during a two-year stint with the Holy Battalion which earned him a move to Europe and Udinese in 2009.

In six years in Italy the 6ft 5in goalkeeper has made just one Serie A appearance, a 3-1 defeat by Lazio in 2010, and has also been an unused substitute in qualifying for the Champions League.

Loan stays at Venezuelan Primera Division sides Estudiantes de Merida and Mineros have afforded Romo more regular football in recent years and he has made 78 league appearances for the latter in the last three seasons, finishing as a league runner-up in 2014.

Romo has eight caps for the Venezuelan national team.