Analysis: How M'Baye Niang will fit in at Watford

Here's everything you need to know about Watford's signing of M'Baye Niang, from the financial details behind the move, to a tactical breakdown of how he may be utilised on the pitch.

The Lowdown

• Age: 22
• Position: Winger
• Former club: AC Milan
• Nationality: French
• International caps: 0

Financial Details

Watford secured M'Baye Niang on loan with a reported €18-million option to buy. It's a hefty amount for a player who has promised the world and delivered little yet. The option will apparently become mandatory if Niang scores 10 league goals by the end of the season - an unlikely and frankly absurd total for a player who only registered 12 tallies across all competitions in 77 appearances for Milan.

Related: Niang switches Milan for Watford in potential €18M deal

Where will he fit in?

If one thing is certain, it's that Niang will get his chances at Vicarage Road. Manager Walter Mazzarri has already deployed 10 different formations during his first five full months in charge of the Hornets, and Niang can fill a variety of roles.

Predominantly played as a left winger, Niang is a speed merchant and bundle of energy who can take on defenders and track back. He does a lot of the work static strikers tend to neglect: Moving in and out of space and drawing fouls in dangerous positions. The problem is that he doesn't score often himself. He's best playing off a poacher with better penalty-box instincts.

In a 3-4-3 setup, Niang could play off Troy Deeney and get support from enterprising wing-back Jose Holebas. Once Nordin Amrabat returns from injury, Watford would be a tricky side to contain. It's also Niang's most comfortable and familiar spot.

Mazzarri could also opt to field his new signing as a No. 10 behind Deeney and Stefano Okaka. Although he has rarely featured in a central position, Niang has the technique to operate in conjunction with the strikers. The freedom of playing in the middle would allow Niang an opportunity to infiltrate open spaces, and he is bound to see more openings in the more fast-paced Premier League than the technical Serie A.

Because Deeney and Okaka would carry the brunt of the scoring burden, Niang's goal record won't necessarily be a criticism as much as an added bonus. Scoring is not one of his strengths, and his final touch tends to let him down, meaning he is best used in tandem with more natural finishers.

Another possibility for Mazzarri is a 3-5-2 formation with Niang and Deeney leading the attack. This one borrows from the two-striker system that worked wonders in the first few months of the 2015-16 season, when Deeney combined so well with partner Odion Ighalo.

In this case, movement is the key. When Deeney and Ighalo were playing some of the best football of their careers, the former would open up lanes and create chances for the latter. It was one of the most prolific partnerships in the Premier League at that time, and Mazzari could recreate it with Niang instead of the slumping Ighalo.

Deeney's such a physical presence, ranking sixth in the top flight with 164 duals won, that he could preoccupy defenders while Niang runs behind them.

Niang's work rate is underrated, and the fact he can cover a lot of ground is something Mazzarri can adapt to any one of his formations.

Future Outlook

This deal is basically a trial for Niang. He has previously spoken of his admiration for the Premier League and how it suits his style, but spotty outings for Milan in the first half of the season did not help his stock.

At 22 years old, potential is fleeting, and actual performances count for more. The story of his career is one of frustration. There is no doubt he can cause chaos on the edge of the penalty area and be a constant menace, but too often is execution a problem.

If nothing goes right at Watford, the Hertfordshire outfit has zero obligation to make the deal permanent. Niang would return to Milan after a third career loan spell.

What he needs most is consistency and confidence. Should Mazzarri give Niang minutes until the end of the season and stand by the player in good times and bad, he could fully realise his potential. The threat of relegation could well give the Caen product little time to impress, however, with Watford winless in its past seven Premier League matches.

Grading the Deal

It is an ambitious move for a side that's stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League table. Niang was getting solid game time up until December, when he botched two penalties and drew jeers from the Milan faithful. His attitude is still questionable - he was arrested for driving with a teammate's license in 2012 and was captured diving off a roof last summer - but he is still such an exciting player to watch.

There's little risk in a loan deal, and still the potential for a great reward.

Verdict: B+