Watford are in talks with Manchester City over the permanent signing of left-sided player Jeremy Helan.

Helan played four games on loan at Shrewsbury Town earlier this season before starting 11 times for Sheffield Wednesday during two months at the Championship strugglers.

The Frenchman’s loan expired after last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dave Jones is keen to resign the 20-year-old, but fears he will lose him to Watford, who want to sign Helan permanently.

Helan , who can play at left back or on the left side of midfield, made his Manchester City debut as a late substitute in the Capital One Cup defeat to Aston Villa in September.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield today, Jones said: “We wait for the Jeremy Helan decision. Watford have come in and want to buy him. So we are still waiting on that decision.”

Jones continued: “He came in and did well. We are disappointed that someone else has come in but at this moment in time, we cannot match what they are offering.

“It is a case of seeing if the deal falls through. If it does then we have a good chance of getting him but if it doesn’t, then we move on to somebody else.”