Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd has expressed his disappointment in Fulham striker Collins John after the player turned down a move to Vicarage Road.
The 21-year-old has struggled to hold down a place in the Fulham squad but turned down the chance to play regular football with the Hornets.
Boothroyd revealed his frustration at the decision, saying John has missed out on the chance to improve as a player.
"He doesn't want to come," Boothroyd told The Times Online. "I am not knocking him, but I believe that's really short-term thinking.
"He could play every week here, giving himself an opportunity, the same way that Ashley Young has done and then got his £10million move to Aston Villa.
"That is what we are offering. The chance to learn, to develop. But it wasn't for him."
Boothroyd was keen to name a number of his current squad as examples of those who have benefited from a move to Vicarage Road.
"Jay DeMerit was backpacking around Europe trying to find a club a couple of years ago, now he's scoring against Blackburn Rovers," he said.
"Who would touch Marlon King? And there's Gavin Mahon, who was chucked out of Wolves as a kid and got relegated into the Conference with Hereford. Now he's playing in the Premiership.
"There is a band of people and we are all in this together. We are trying to build an aeroplane in the sky because we have to get points while building a club at the same time."