Watford midfielder Cristian Battocchio should join Italian side Padova in the next few days, according to his agent.

Battocchio has been linked with a return to Italy in the last week and his agent yesterday confirmed the 21-year-old was bound for the city of Padua.

Claudio Vagheggi was quoted by Padovasport.tv as saying Battocchio would be joining Padova in "a matter of days".

Vagheggi said the deal had not been officially formalised but that Battocchio had rejected other clubs in favour of joining the Serie B strugglers on loan until June.

Battocchio has been in the Hornets' 18-man match-day squad for all of the Hornets games this season except for one.

The Argentine-born midfielder has made six Championship starts and nine substitute appearances this season, being an unused sub on eight occasions.

The Italy Under-21 international has also started all five of the Golden Boys' League Cup and FA Cup ties.

However, he has been behind Lewis McGugan and Sean Murray in the pecking order for most of this season and last season's Watford Observer Player of the Year, Almen Abdi, returned midweek after missing most of the season through injury.

The club may also decide to play new signing Alexander Merkel further forward once he returns from suspension if the club do land another holding midfielder as planned.

Watford's head coach Beppe Sannino refused to be drawn on the prospect of Battocchio leaving when asked on Monday, stating he was "deaf" to the reports.