Quique Sanchez Flores says Victor Ibarbo is not in his first team plans at Watford and can leave in January

Ibarbo joined the Hornets in the summer from Italian club Cagliari.

The Columbian international signed a season-long loan deal at Vicarage Road but has barely featured in Flores’ side.

The 25-year-old has made just three substitute appearances for Watford - the last of which came against Arsenal in October - and hasn’t been involved in a match-day squad for over a month.

The winger’s time at Vicarage Road has been far from perfect and it looks set to end in the next month with Flores confirming Ibarbo isn’t in contention for a place in the first team.

“At the moment Ibarbo is not in my plan,” Flores said this morning. “We are always thinking what is best for the player. Ibarbo has quality to play for other teams.

“We don’t think Ibarbo is ready to play for Watford and that is my decision. So we will try and find the best option for him because we want him to be happy.”

One player who has been surprisingly linked with a move away from Watford is midfielder Valon Behrami.

Reports in Italy state the Switzerland international could switch to fellow Pozzo owned side Udinese in January because he isn’t figuring regularly in Flores’ starting XI.

It is highly unlikely the Hornets would allow Behrami to leave Vicarage Road.

Flores is a huge admirer of the 30-year-old and often praises the character Behrami adds to the dressing room.

As for why the midfielder hasn’t started regularly since being sent off against Swansea City in October, it is down to fitness.

“We have been supporting Behrami for a long time,” Flores said. “He was sent off against Swansea and then he had problems with injuries.

“He has put in a lot of effort to recover. We’ve put him on the bench sometimes when he hasn’t been 100 per cent.

"He is not exactly 100 per cent yet and that is why he is having problems getting back into the starting XI.

“He is very important in terms of his character but he isn’t 100 per cent. We are working with him to recuperate his best performance but the most important thing is his health.

"He has little problems and we are working a lot with the medical staff to help him recover.

“The value of Behrami in this squad is very important. I have no doubts about him. The only thing is that I can’t guarantee any player a place in the first XI.

“If they train well every single week then I can guarantee them a place. But I can guarantee Valon Behrami is a very important player for us.”

While Behrami is expected to stay at Vicarage Road one player who looked set for an exit in January is Jose Holebas.

The Greece international started three of Watford’s first four Premier League matches but lost his place in the side to Ikechi Anya.

Flores would go on to state Holebas was dropped because his performances during the opening weeks of the season “were not good enough”.

Nathan Ake has subsequently gone on to cement his place as the Hornets’ first choice left back and Holebas was expected to depart next month.

However, the 31-year-old started against Chelsea on Boxing Day - with Ake unable to face his parent club - and impressed.

“Holebas in the last two months is at the point (level) I want,” Flores explained.

“The problem for him is Ake is in that position and is putting in amazing performances.”

But Ake will miss the next three games due to suspension. Holebas may be given the chance to prove his worth.

“In the last two months, at the training ground, I have the player I want (in Holebas),” Flores said.

“Chelsea was difficult for Holebas but he tried very hard and I didn’t see any difference between him and the other players.”

Another summer signing who has struggled for game time this season is Alessandro Diamanti.

The Italy international has made just three substitute appearances for Watford since joining the club on loan from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande.

He is understood to favour a return to his home country during January with his former club Livorno keen to re-sign the 32-year-old.

While Flores didn’t reveal if Diamanti will leave Watford next month he did admit it will be difficult for the midfielder to play regularly in the Hornets side.

“Diamanti is a clever player and technically is very good,” Flores said. “The problem is the strikers we play are very different.

“In the first match of the season against Everton we played (Jose Manue) Jurado behind (Troy) Deeney. The rest of the matches we’ve played with two strikers.

“So it is difficult for any player who plays in that position (as a number ten) because we always use two strikers.

“I talk with him a lot because it is important to speak with these kind of players. He is training well every time but he can’t get into the team.”

Should the right player become available next month Watford will look to add to their squad.

The Hornets are one of several Premier League sides interested in Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend while Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni is also on the club’s wish list.

Flores never likes discussing players at other clubs, although he did admit to liking Kameni but loving Heurelho Gomes.

However, Watford’s head coach again stressed any January arrival must be a player who can benefit the club in the long-term.

Flores said: “We have the opportunity to support the team with new players but the players who are coming should be ready for next year. We have to sign players who will be involved in the project in the future.

“If we can’t sign players who will improve us I would rather we keep the squad we have at the moment.

“The names are very clear. If they come then it is perfect. If not then the squad will remain the same.