Valon Behrami has been in contact with Swiss side FC Sion, it has been reported, ahead of a possible summer move for the 31-year-old.

Behrami has become a mainstay of Watford's midfield this season when fit, acting as the club's most natural holding midfielder, and has a contract at Vicarage Road until 2018.

But the man from the land of the mountains could leave the Hornets with one of their own to climb should he return to his home country, as Walter Mazzarri has already struggled to find an adequate replacement when he has been unavailable.

The 15 months he has left to run on his Watford contract could be cut short thanks to a clause which would allow him to leave as early as this summer, according to reports.

Sion president Christian Constantin told Swiss newspaper Blick: "We have been in touch since winter. 

"[Sporting director] Barthélémy Constantin has already met with him several times. 

"Valon wants to return to Switzerland. And I will bring him to Sion. He is hot on it."

Behrami began his career in Switzerland with FC Lugano in 2002 before leaving for Genoa the following year.

He has made 45 appearances for Watford since joining from Hamburg in 2015, and is yet to score.