Hornets midfielder Etienne Capoue stresses Emmanuel Adebayor's public image is very different to the man he says is like a brother.

The Togo international is a free agent after having his contract at Tottenham Hotspur cancelled in September and has again been linked with a move to Watford this week. 

Adebayor's been attempting to train with a Premier League club in an effort to keep fit ahead of earning a January move.

The Hornets are understood to have turned down a request from the 31-year-old, who has developed a reputation as a disruptive influence, to train with the Hornets last month.

But that hasn’t stopped national media speculating that he could still be set to a switch to Vicarage Road.

Capoue spoke to the press this afternoon ahead of the Golden Boys’ game against Leicester City and was inevitably asked about whether he would welcome the arrival of his former Spurs teammate.

“Adebayor is my friend first and I talk to him a lot of time,” the Frenchman said. “But I can’t talk about that (Adebayor joining Watford).

“Of course I’d be happy (if the striker signed) because he is a top player.

“If you want to know if he is joining then call him. That would be better. I haven’t tried to persuade him.”

When asked why Adebayor has a gained the reputation of a difficult player to manage Capoue replied: “For me he is like a brother. He always advised me when I was at Tottenham and still does now.

“He is a very, very good person but he doesn’t have a good image. Inside the dressing room he is very good. Every player would say Adebayor is a good person.

“I can’t explain why (he has a bad image) but he is very professional. He goes to the gym before or after training. He is good professional, more than you think.”

Those kind words were echoed by Hornets head coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

The Spaniard didn’t wish to speculate on which players would arrive in the January transfer window but did give his opinion when asked about Adebayor.

“He is a very good person,” Watford’s head coach said. “When you know a person it is important to know what they can transmit to you.

“To me he is humble and is a good person with a good heart. These are the kind of things we want players to have Watford. If I look at my squad all those things are there.”

He added: “I respect the players we have in the squad now. If one day Adebayor belongs to Watford then I can talk about him.

"The most important people now for me are (Odion Ighalo) Ighalo, (Troy) Deeney, (Sebastian) Prödl, (Nathan) Ake, Capoue. These are the players that are in my mind.”