Watford are reportedly keen to recoup over £40 million for Ismaila Sarr, who is a target for Liverpool and others for a move this summer.
According to a report by London Evening Standard, Liverpool now know the kind of sum they will have to shell out in order to sign Ismaila Sarr in the summer transfer window. Watford want over £40 million for the Senegalese winger, a fee that would end up becoming a club record for a player sale.
Sarr joined Watford from Rennes last summer before enjoying a fairly decent maiden campaign in England. In 30 appearances across all competitions, the Senegalese winger had a decent return of 6 goals and as many assists.
While there surely is room for improvement, the 22-year-old showcased his abilities quite well, pointing towards a potential that could be harnessed well under the right management. The best example of the same came against none other than Premier League champions Liverpool, whose unbeaten run in the season was ended courtesy Sarr’s blazing performance back in February.
His exploits have, in turn, been noted by several clubs in the Premier League as well as around Europe, and there have been suggestions that Sarr could perhaps be a viable target for Liverpool. And, the Premier League champions are indeed interested in signing him.
The Reds boast of one of the best attacking trios in world football at present, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino fitting together like a glove. Beyond the trio, however, there is a sense that Jurgen Klopp does not have a lot of quality at his disposal. While Divock Origi has been a fine asset for Liverpool in the last couple of seasons, his future is uncertain.
Indeed, the Belgian forward has been linked with a possible move to Aston Villa, leaving Klopp with Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri as the only other backup options. Minamino has been slow to adjust to life at Liverpool, while Shaqiri’s future at Anfield is up in the air, with Fenerbahce keen on snapping him up.
As a result, the interest in Sarr makes sense for Liverpool, especially with the 22-year-old capable of playing across the front three. However, Liverpool and other suitors, including Crystal Palace and Wolves, will need to pay a substantial sum to land Sarr, with Watford slapping a £40 million price tag on him.
The Hornets believe they are in a strong position, as far as negotiations over a transfer fee goes, even though their relegation from the Premier League ought to put them under pressure to balance their books. However, with Sarr still having four years left on his contract, Watford’s position is indeed quite strong.
What now remains to be seen is if Liverpool are open to the idea of shelling out £40 million for Sarr. The report suggests that player sales would determine their ability to meet the player’s asking price and it will be interesting to see if that actually turns out to be the case.
