Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is a transfer target for Championship club Watford, according to the Watford Observer.

The Observer report that the Hornets are keen to add a defensive midfielder to their squad and that Frimpong, who has been capped once by Ghana, is one of several players they are looking at to fulfil the holding role.

Frimpong is currently a free agent after the short-term deal he signed in January with Barnsley, who were relegated from the second tier in 2013-14, was not renewed; he only turned out nine times for the Yorkshire outfit and was sent-off half-an-hour into his debut at their local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The 22-year-old began his senior career at Arsenal in 2011 and made 16 appearances in all competitions for the club he first joined as a nine-year-old.

During his time with the Gunners he was loaned out to Wolverhampton Wanderers, but an anterior cruciate ligament injury - a recurrence of the problem he first suffered in August 2010 - ended his time at Molineux in February 2012; subsequent loan spells to Charlton Athletic and Fulham in 2012-13 yielded a combined total of just 12 games played.

Emmanuel Frimpong could join Watford following his Barnsley release
Emmanuel Frimpong could join Watford following his Barnsley release