Sebastian Prödl has revealed Watford owner Gino Pozzo first approached him over a move to Vicarage Road while the Hornets were in the middle of their Championship promotion battle last season.

It’s an admission that may surprise many but it’s one that only underlines the faith Pozzo had in his side that they would reach the Premier League.

And while Watford were overcoming the likes of Cardiff City and Charlton Athletic during the dark winter months, Prödl was planning his future.

The centre-back had spent seven years with Werder Bremen and had been offered a new contract by the club.

The Austrian international could have taken the easy option. He instead opted to switch to Vicarage Road on a free transfer. It’s a choice he doesn’t regret.

“Mr Pozzo and I had contact from the winter onwards,” Prödl said. “Watford then got promoted and I had the chance to come here.”

“I always dreamed about the Premier League,” he continued. “I turned 28 during the summer so I thought it was the right moment to come here.

“I feel good but it’s also a little strange. But I believe I am at the best age to play in the Premier League. I had a really good offer from Bremen to stay there but I felt I needed to get out of my comfort zone.

“I did the same when I was younger and I left [Sturm Graz] after getting into the Austria national team.

“So I wanted to get out of the comfort zone one more time in my career. I wanted to do something new. I wanted to challenge the best strikers in the world.”

Prödl will have the chance to do that over the course of the campaign. At 6ft 4in he is built for Premier League football. He spoke to Arsenal defender and former Werder teammate Per Mertesacker before making the switch to Vicarage Road and was encouraged by what he was told.

“I asked him about the league, the tempo and the style,” Prödl said. “I asked if I’d fit in here. He recommended I would. I had other offers but it was my dream when I became a professional to play in the Premier League.”