Stefano Okaka's brother - and also agent - has ramped up the stakes in the ongoing dispute between the striker and Watford head coach Marco Silva.

Carlo Okaka told French media the 28-year-old was being tracked by a number of teams in France, and said it was "the sooner the better" that the Italian international needed to be playing.

Okaka's absence has split opinion since he made his one and only start of the season on the opening day against Liverpool in August, before a prolonged exile from the Hornets squad began later that month and was only ended when he was drafted in following a three-match ban for striking rival Troy Deeney.

Silva said in October that there had been more than met the eye to his prolonged spell on the sidelines, hinting at a disciplinary issue between the pair.

"Stefano has had no playing time this season, due to manager Marco Silva's technical choices," Carlo Okaka said.

"Interest from France? That is true. But I can not and I do not want to give names at the moment. There are three interested teams that have contacted us.

"I can tell you that three coaches would like to have him. We have not set a deadline for making a decision, but Stefano wants to play. The sooner the better."

Carlo did name Sevilla and Everton among interested parties in the forward, but added it was "not just them" tracking the striker when speaking to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb.