Watford retain interest in Emmanuel Adebayor despite denying training request

Adebayor has been without a club since departing Tottenham earlier this month, having failed to seal a deadline day move to West Ham after what is understood to be a disagreement over any pay-off from Spurs for cancelling his contract.

Since then the former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid forward has been without a club and reports surfaced on Thursday that the 31-year-old had been rebuffed when he approached Premier League new boys Watford in an attempt to train with them and maintain his fitness.

Ahead of Sunday's match against Crystal Palace, which will see the Hornets going for a third straight league win, Flores confirmed he did not want Adebayor training with his squad as he cannot be registered to play alongside them - but that when the window re-opens in the new year he could make a move for the player.

"You never know, maybe it is possible," he said when asked about wanting Adebayor in January.

"Maybe other big names. My desire is that a lot of big names can play in Watford. If we are working well maybe others will want to join us.

"It's difficult, we know Adebayor is an amazing player but two weeks ago we have closed the squad.

"We can't move anymore. We have said to him all the best for the future, you never know what may happen in the future, one day maybe we will train together. But not at the moment can we put new players in the squad.

"The squad is closed, now is the moment to train and focus with the players we have.

"He's a good player and I love to have good players. We have been thinking about it for the last two months and it is not the time as players are out of the market."

Flores, who has overseen the arrival of 17 new players since being appointed boss of newly-promoted Watford in June, is pleased that a player of Adebayor's calibre has shown an interest in the club.

"For us it is important that players want to come here," he added.

"It is positive news for us. Maybe Watford is a good place to train and play. I'm really pleased players want to come here.

"We have not been happy with all players, he has a lot of experience and amazing spirit. For us he's a very important player."