Jerome Sinclair has been told to stay and fight for his place at Watford after Walter Mazzarri turned down Brentford's interest in the former Liverpool striker.
Sinclair, 20, was signed from the Reds for £4m in the summer but has made just one start for the Hornets so far.
Brentford were close to taking him on loan earlier in the season, and are keen again with Scott Hogan set to leave Griffin Park.
But Watford have told Sinclair he is needed to bolster their faltering frontline and he will not be allowed out on loan for the rest of the season.