Watford have targeted former Bayer Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt as the man to replace Walter Mazzarri at the Vicarage Road helm, reports the Independent.  Mazzarri was relieved of his duties as Hornets boss after just a single season in England and bowed out in disappointing fashion as he oversaw a 5-0 thumping to Manchester City on the final day of the campaign.  The Pozzo family, who own Watford, have since identified Schmidt as the manager to improve Watford and are thought to have been impressed following initial talks between both parties. 

Marco Silva has also been linked with the vacant managerial position at Vicarage Road, but the Portuguese boss is attracting interest from Southampton and FC Porto.  Schmidt has been out of a job since being sacked as Bayer Leverkusen manager back in March, yet his stock remains high on account of the good work he carried out during his time at the club.  The Watford board were also impressed by his aggressive brand of attacking football and that he speaks immaculate English, two requirements in the club’s pursuit of Mazzarri’s successor.  Former CSKA Moscow and Russia coach Leonid Slutsky has also been mooted as a potential replacement for Mazzarri, however it’s though Schmidt is now favourite to take over.