Gianfranco Zola hoping for Nathaniel Chalobah stay

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola has expressed his desire to keep hold of loanee midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah for another season.

However, the Italian has conceded that his team may need to gain promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs to stand any chance of securing the 18-year-old's services again.

"If we go up to the Premier League, we stand more chance of having him here for a longer period but right now it is impossible to say," he said.

"It is difficult to know because it depends on the manager who goes to Chelsea and many other things."

Chalobah has made 39 appearances for the Hornets, scoring five goals in the process.