Udinese head coach Stefano Colantuono has discussed the possibility of Alessandro Diamanti swapping Watford for the Zebrette.

The 32-year-old joined the Hornets on loan from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande in the summer but has played just 65 minutes of Premier League football and has yet to start a game.

That partly is down to the system used by Quique Sanchez Flores, who admitted last week Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo’s partnership makes it difficult to incorporate the attacking midfielder in his side.

Diamanti’s lack of football has led to speculation in Italy that he could be moved over to Udinese during the current transfer window, especially with the news Antonio De Natale may opt to retire this month. 

It was a question put to Colantuono after his side’s victory over Atalanta this afternoon.

He told Football Italia: “We’re alert, we want to improve the team and see what we can do.

“Diamanti? He’s at a big club, it’s not easy to bring him here. If [Antonio] Di Natale stopped we’d have to replace him, and Diamanti is a good player.”