Premier League title winner Claudio Ranieri is reportedly in talks over the vacancy at Watford.

Following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Leeds United, the Hornets relieved Xisco Munoz of his duties, with the newly-promoted side sitting 15th in the embryonic standings.

The controversial sacking represented Watford's fifth managerial casualty since January 2018, and the Vicarage Road board are already understood to be in contact with possible successors.

According to Sky Italia, former Leicester City and Chelsea boss Ranieri is now in talks over taking the reins at Watford having been out of the game for just over three months.

The 69-year-old left his post at Sampdoria at the end of the 2020-21 season after winning 26 of his 71 games in charge, and he previously led Leicester to the unlikeliest of top-flight title triumphs in the 2015-16 season.

Ranieri has taken charge of 225 Premier League games during stints with Leicester, Chelsea and Fulham, chalking up 107 victories. body check tags ::