Watford in talks with Manchester City over Mfuni

Watford sporting director Luke Dowling says the club are in "regular" talks with Manchester City over re-signing defender Stephen Mfuni on loan and hinted striker Nestory Irankunda could leave the club this month. Mfuni, who spent the second half of last season on loan with the Hornets, has featured for City on their pre-season tour of Asia. He played 45 minutes in City's 1-1 draw with Inter Milan before being replaced at half-time by fellow former Watford loanee Max Alleyne - as well as the whole second half of City's 3-1 win against a K-League XI in Seoul on Wednesday. "Everyone who watched Watford play last year in the games when Mfuni, especially, played, it wouldn't surprise me with Man City losing Nathan Ake this year, if they kept him around," Dowling told BBC Three Counties Radio. "He's left-footed like Ake, he can play left-back, he can play left centre-half, so that wouldn't surprise me at all. "However, the club are in contact with Man City regularly... so just wait and see. "It's unfortunate with loans like that because we're never in control with them as they are not our players." Change of recruitment policy at Watford Watford sign Ravaglia & Payero for undisclosed fees Watford sign Udinese left-back Zemura on loan Meanwhile, Irankunda, who scored for Australia against Turkey at the World Cup this summer, has been heavily linked with a £14m move to Sporting Lisbon - with the Portuguese giants competing in the Champions League this season. "As we speak now, he's training today," Dowling said of the 20-year-old. "As you're aware, Scott [Duxbury, the Watford chairman,] wants to keep Nestory. "However, we are in a transfer market, and things move quickly with transfers. This week in particular we've seen a lot more movement, including [from] Nestory himself. "Scott will still do his best to do what's right for the club, but as we've seen with clubs like Newcastle, players want to go, and if we get into that position, we will do what's best for the club. "This might hopefully be the season we see the real [Kwadwo] Baah. If we lose Nestory, which a lot of the talk has been about, then this could be the season that Baah really pushes on." Dowling confirmed the club were interested in bringing in a new striker, either via the loan market or on a permanent basis. "Would I like another one in?" he said. "Yes. I think we need one. In an ideal world, I'd want someone different to what we've got. So, that's an area we're looking at. "But, as we speak now, it is not as much as a priority as the centre-half position." Latest Watford news, analysis and fan views