Watford are close to completing the signing of striker Stipe Perica from Udinese.

The 25-year-old Croatian is already in London, the Watford Observer has been told and sources close to the fellow Pozzo-owned club expect the move to be confirmed soon on what is thought to be a loan.

The 6ft 4in forward began his career with his hometown club of Zadar, but moved to Chelsea in 2013 for a fee of around £2million, but he did make an appearance for the Stamford Bridge club. 

Perica spent the next season-and-a-half on loan at NAC Breda in Netherlands, before making an initial loan move to Udinese in January 2015. This was then made permanent for a fee of £4million in July 2016.

The striker, who scored eight goals in 12 appearances for Croatia's Under-21 side, has since spent loan spells at fellow Italian club Frosinone, Kasimpasa in Turkey before moving to Belgian outfit Mouscron last season where he scored eight times in a total of 16 appearances.