Quique Sanchez Flores has said out-of-favour Tottenham winger Andros Townsend is the type of player Watford need.
Hornets boss Flores has been linked with a January swoop for Townsend and his former White Hart Lane teammate Emmanuel Adebayor, who is currently a free agent.
The Hornets boss did not confirm or deny concrete moves for either player, but said he could struggle to persuade Adebayor to be a third-choice striker behind Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo.
Watford reportedly had a £10 million bid for England international Townsend turned down earlier this month, and Sanchez said the 24-year-old "has the characteristics that we are looking for."
He added: "We have players in the side who can play intelligent football but we need skill, we need velocity.
"We need to make a balance with these players, and he has the characteristics."
Flores said he could "understand why a lot of clubs in England want to sign Adebayor" and added: "He's 31, he has quality, he has experience, he has goals. So I understand that he can choose where he wants to play in the Premier League.
"It's not easy to come here to cover Deeney and Ighalo. They have a high performance every time, and they are part of the soul of this team."
Watford travel to Southampton on Wednesday, searching for a first win in four Premier League matches.