It is little secret that a positive summer transfer window can make or break the fortunes of a Premier League side.

With this in mind, the next few months will be vitally important for Watford if they are, as Javi Gracia insists he is eager to do, improve on their 14th place finish from 2017/18 next term.

The Spaniard looks set to remain in his post and has spoken positively about early talks about plans for the window, with his belief being that Gino Pozzo has the ambition to drive Watford on.

It’s hard to argue with Gracia’s appraisal of Pozzo, after all the Italian owner has overseen the club’s rise from Championship side to an established Premier League outfit while implementing vast improvements to Vicarage Road during his reign.

A fourth year in the top flight awaits the Hornets, but laying the foundations to prosper next term must start with the rebuilding of a squad in need of touching up in places and a complete overhaul in others.

Last summer’s arrivals promised so much - the signings of Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah for less than £10 million apiece were fine investments for the future and would have been for the present had injury not intervened.

However, the failure to add suitable reinforcements at the heart of defence was brutally exposed as fitness issues ravaged the Watford backline.

Gracia would, therefore, be wise to start from the back this summer as he looks to stamp his mark on Watford in his first full window at the helm.

Craig Cathcart and Christian Kabasele look to be a fine pairing, but both have had injury concerns and the long-term fitness of Younes Kaboul, now 32, cannot be trusted after he played just twice last term.

Sebastian Prodl is a month shy of 31 and, while a fierce competitor in a physical battle, struggles when faced with any sort of pace.

So too should left-back, where Jose Holebas is Watford’s only genuine option of any quality, be a concern for the head coach. The Greek has had an up and down campaign and his form tailed off considerably towards the end of the season.

At 33, the decision to hand Holebas a two-year contract extension in January raised more than a few eyebrows and an energetic replacement is a must.

The problems at the back do not stop with the defence, and goalkeeper is another problem area with Heurelho Gomes on the final year of his contract and Orestis Karnezis only at the club on loan.

An experienced Premier League number one goes a long way to securing precious points and a move for Swansea City’s wantaway Lukasz Fabianski should be seriously considered.

Midfield is, perhaps, the area where Watford are best stocked as Hughes and Chalobah compliment Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Cleverley and the revitalised Etienne Capoue.

Doucoure could well depart, but the remaining quartet represent a plethora of options for the Hornets to build upon should he do so.

Finally, adding firepower to a side which scored just 44 times in the league all season will be essential – goals are after all the commodity by which football games are won and lost.

Andre Gray’s record £18.5m move from Burnley hasn’t worked and Troy Deeney struggled with fitness and discipline last term.

The Watford skipper is endeavouring to make the most of the off-season to start next term in flying form, but Watford may need to add a genuine goalscorer to their ranks if they are to make the strides forward Gracia and the club crave.