Marco Silva is heading up Gino Pozzo's list of potential replacements for outgoing Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri.

The Portuguese manager would prove a popular choice after bringing Hull within a realistic chance of Premier League survival this season, and turning the KCOM Stadium into a relative fortress in his relatively brief reign.

And sources close to the Watford owner have confirmed the 39-year-old is Pozzo's number one target to take the reigns ahead of the new season.

Understandably, Pozzo is keen to make an appointment as soon as possible to provide minimal disruption to the club's preparations for 2017/18.

Silva, who is out of contract at Hull at the end of next month, is sure to be in high demand - having picked up 21 points from his 18 games at the helm, despite inheriting a threadbare squad sat rock bottom of the Premier League.

And he continued an impressive personal record on home soil with the Tigers until their loss to Sunderland earlier this month - his first at his own ground as a manager in 42 games, covering spells with four different clubs.