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Cho Gue-sung linked to Championship side Watford

Published: 17 Jun. 2023, 11:28

Cho Gue-sung waves to fans after Korea's 1-0 loss to Peru in a friendly at Busan Asiad Stadium in Busan on Friday. [NEWS1]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker Cho Gue-sung is rumored to have agreed personal terms for a summer move to Championship side Watford, according to reports Saturday.

Cho has agreed personal terms with the mid-table Championship club, according to Korean football news website Footballist on Saturday, with Jeonbuk and Watford still to finalize details before an official move is announced.

Neither club nor Cho has confirmed the move, with Footballist citing an “official familiar with the situation” as the source.

Cho, 25, came to prominence at last year’s World Cup when he scored two goals against Ghana in a group stage game and became the first ever Korean player to score a brace in a World Cup match.

Cho received offers in January from Scottish Premier Ship side Celtic, Bundesliga team FC Cologne and Major League Soccer club Minnesota United.

He opted not to move in the January transfer window, staying in Korea for the start of the 2023 K League season with an agreement with Jeonbuk that he would seek a move in the summer.

Cho was the top scorer in the K League last season, with 17 goals to his name, but has been off to a slow start this year with four goals in nine appearances before the June international break.

The potential move to Watford fits with the strategy Cho decided upon after discussions with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Technical Director and former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, who suggested Cho first move to a second-tier European club where he could learn to adapt to European football.

“I agree,” Cho told the JoongAng Ilbo last month. “Since I do not have experience on the European stage, I am considering gaining experience at a second-tier European League, although it is the right call to go to one of the top five leagues that everyone wants to play in, if there is an opportunity.

“Those around me like Park and my agent are trying to facilitate the move. I’ve regained my fitness and I believe a good opportunity will come if I play well and wait for the opportunity.”

Cho has already completed his mandatory military service, playing for military football club Gimcheon Sangmu from 2021 to 2022, so he is free to pursue an uninterrupted career internationally.

BY JIM BULLEY [[email protected]]