Watford have hit out at "erroneous and misleading media reports" regarding their dispute with Everton over last season's alleged illegal pursuit of Marco Silva.

The Hornets reported their Premier League rivals to the Football Association earlier this year after they supposedly tried and failed to land the 41-year-old.

Watford felt that Everton's approach destabilised their campaign, leading to Silva's sacking in January and his subsequent appointment by Everton in June.

Reports in the British press suggested that the Toffees paid over the odds for £50m forward Richarlison as a way of paying off compensation to Watford, but the Hertfordshire outfit insist that it has never been about money.

"Watford FC feels compelled to make the following statement in a bid to correct erroneous and misleading media reports concerning an ongoing dispute with Everton FC," the statement, posted on their official website, read. "The club have made an official complaint to the Premier League over an allegation of an illegal approach to former manager, Marco Silva.

"The complaint to the Premier League makes clear the seriousness of the allegation and what the club believes is overwhelming evidence of a clear breach of Premier League rules. At the request of the Premier League we entered into mediation with Everton in a process that involved club officials and their respective legal teams, with no conclusion being reached.

"Therefore the disciplinary process continues. In pursuing its disciplinary claim, the club has known from the outset it forfeited any right to compensation as a consequence of not following a proposed arbitration process. We believe this situation is not about a compensation figure but the principle of making a stand when the actions of one Premier League club completely undermine and cause intrinsic damage to a fellow member club.

"We trust in the Premier League to fully investigate the complaint and we will comply with that process. The club will be making no further comment."

Watford have since appointed Javi Gracia as Silva's successor at Vicarage Road.