Watford have held positive talks with Claudio Ranieri regarding their head coach position following the sacking of Xisco Munoz.

The Spaniard was dismissed this morning with the club concerned about "a negative trend" in performances.

After his departure, club sources told the Watford Observer that a new appointment would be announced "soon" as they discussed details with Ranieri with a view to bringing someone in as soon as possible.

Reports in Italy suggest the deal has already been fully agreed, however minor details are still thought to be preventing anything being announced just yet.

Ranieri is understood to currently be in Italy, but is open to a swift return to England.

The Italian famously won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016 and has also managed Chelsea and Fulham in the English top flight.

More recently, he has taken charge of Roma and Sampdoria in Serie A and also has experience with the likes of Athletico Madrid and Juventus from a long career in management.

Should he take over at Vicarage Road, as now seems increasingly likely, he will join with the Hornets sitting in 15th place, having picked up seven points from their opening seven matches this season.

The 69-year-old would undergo something of a baptism of fire in his opening weeks as head coach, with the next eight fixtures pitting Watford against all of the current top four, as well as the likes of Manchester City, Leicester and Arsenal.

His task will initially be made harder with several of his players away on international duty ahead of his first game in charge against Liverpool on October 16 in the early kick off live on BT Sport.