Gianpaolo Pozzo has confirmed Watford have held talks with Walter Mazzarri and the club could appoint their new head coach by the end of this week.

Quique Sanchez Flores announced his departure this summer, after just one season in charge, on Friday and the Hornets expect to make a quick decision on his successor.

Watford owner Gino Pozzo's father Gianpaolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Yes, we are talking to him [Mazzarri] about it [taking over].”

Former Inter Milan and Napoli coach Mazzarri is considered a near certainty to take charge according to the bookmakers with SkyBet rating him 1/10 to be the Premier League club's next boss.

Watford intend to make a swift decision, within the next week, to give them as much time as possible to prepare for next season.

The Pozzos are looking for their seventh full time boss since taking over the club four years ago.