Watford manager wants former Manchester United midfielder permanently

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri has confirmed he wants to sign Tom Cleverley on a full-time basis once his Everton contract expires.

Cleverley, re-joined Watford from Everton in the January transfer window on loan until the end of the season and the former England international has made a positive impact since returning to Vicarage Road.

The 27-year-old’s current Everton deal is due to expire at the end of the season and Mazzarri has confirmed his attentions to secure his long-term services in the summer.

“I want to say Tom Cleverley has surprised me in a positive way in how well he managed to get in this environment,” talkSPORT quote Mazzarri as saying.

“It seems like he has been playing for us since a long time. Of course it would make me very happy if he would stay here with us because he is not only a great player but we need him as well.”

Cleverley returns to Old Trafford on Saturday with a point to prove against his former club after they sold him to Everton in 2015.

Since joining Watford late into the January window Cleverley has provided two assists in his three appearances for the club – two short of the club’s leading assist maker Jose Holebas – and his return has coincided with a return to good results for the team.

In fact, Watford are now unbeaten in four league matches, which is only the second time they have managed such a run this season, last doing so in October.

For more stats on Tom Cleverley, click here to visit his WhoScored player page