Watford are on the verge of completing the signing of Fiorentina striker Mauro Zarate.

The 29-year-old forward is expected to initially join the Hornets on loan until the end of the season with a view to signing permanently in the summer. 

Zarate is believed to have passed his medical and the deal should be confirmed by Watford in the next day or two.

He will become the second arrival at Vicarage Road this month following the return of Tom Cleverley on loan from Everton.

Head coach Walter Mazzarri is keen on the Argentine and believes he will give his side another attacking option as they bid to halt their slide down the Premier League table following a seven-game winless run. 

Zarate has been limited to nine appearances for Fiorentina this season scoring four goals.

The chance to return to England appealed to the experienced forward after previous spells at West Ham United, Birmingham City and QPR. 

Zarate still has something to prove in this country after failing to convince during his time with the Hammers across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns. He scored seven goals in 29 appearances for the club.

The forward also made four appearances without scoring during a loan spell at QPR in 2015. 

Zarate's other spell in England came nine years ago when he scored four goals in 14 matches during a loan at Birmingham City. 

His arrival means the club will have to shuffle their squad at the end of this month and take out a foreign player to accomodate him. 

His debut at Watford is set to be delayed though after picking up a three-match suspension for being sent off in the Coppa Italia this month against Chievo Verona.