Expected signing for Watford FC, Vicarage Road, Watford Hertfordshire England

Watford are expected to complete the signing of Carlisle United’s Tom Aldred after the highly-rated centre back was understood to have had a medical with the club this morning.

Aldred has only made four starts for United but the 6ft 2 defender impressed during his short stint in the side.

The 19-year-old is out of contract at Carlisle and rejected their one-year extension because his agent claimed it was a “poor contract” and“lacked incentives”.

This means Watford and Carlisle could end up going to a Football League tribunal once again should a deal be completed as expected - a year after the Hornets were stung for failing to agree a deal for striker Danny Graham.

Bolton-born Aldred, who is a Scotland Under-19 international, was Carlisle’s youth team captain and signed a professional contract with the club in December 2008.

He was part of the Carlisle squad during pre-season last summer but had what his manager Greg Abbott described as his “worst game for the club” and subsequently struggled to regain his confidence.

The centre back was therefore pursuaded to join non-league Workington at the start of the season and when he returned to the club, he was brought back into the frame.

Abbott called on Aldred to remember all the help he has received from the club this year in the hope that he could pursuade him to stay.

Abbott stated the player had expressed a desire to remain at Carlisle last week, before the club received an email the next day stating he was going to reject their contract.

The player’s agent Clive Hart did not rule out the defender remaining at Brunton Park last week but we understand Aldred had a medical with the club this morning ahead of a move to the Hornets.