LA Galaxy manager Greg Vanney stopped short of saying that the Major League Soccer club won't be making a move for Super Eagles on-field captain William Troost-Ekong before the close of the transfer window.

The Watford center-back had been linked with a loan move to LA Galaxy but Vanney has made it clear that center back is not a position he is looking to reinforce in the short term.

Watford sporting director Cristiano Giaretta, who is responsible for incoming and outgoing transfers at Watford, informed allnigeriasoccer.com on Wednesday that La Galaxy have not yet made an approach for Troost-Ekong.

Troost-Ekong has been starved of game time since returning to the Hornets after Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Super Eagles in January, with no games under his belt for Watford since January 1, 2022.

When asked to comment on the rumours linking LA Galaxy with Troost-Ekong, Vanney said at Thursday's pre-match press conference ahead of the derby with LAFC : "No comment. I know the player but that's the extent of the situation.

"Center back is not really a priority in the moment, we have a number of center backs, we have Zavaleta who hasn't even gotten into the mix just yet.

"We've been integrating him into the group so I don't think it's a priority at this moment.

"One of the things that is a priority is if we lose one midfielder right now we start to get a little bit thinner especially in that defensive midfield role."

The 28-year-old Troost-Ekong has approximately three years to run on his contract with Watford, whom he joined from sister club Udinese in 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel