Manchester United are reportedly looking to sign Watford forward Ismaila Sarras they look to add more quality to their team. The Senegal international joined the Hornets in 2019 from Rennes for a fee of around £25 million.
Daily Mail have reported that the Red Devils could try to sign Sarr if they are not able to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, who is their No. 1 target.
Sarr is valued at £45 million by the Hornets, who were relegated to the Championship last season. He was previously linked with a move to United’s arch-rivals Liverpool, who signed Wolves’ Diogo Jota instead.
The 22-year old still has four years remaining on his current contract at the Championship side.
Ismaila Sarr to Manchester United – A good option for the club?
Manchester United’s inability to conclude the Jadon Sancho transfer deal has frustrated their fan-base, who want to see more quality arrivals in the final days of the transfer window. The Red Devils lack depth in key areas, while a few positions need better quality players as well.
Watford’s Senegalese midfielder Ismaila Sarr (R) scores his team’s second goal past Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Liverpool at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on February 29, 2020. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Premier League side are not willing to pay the sum that Borussia Dortmund have demanded, and they are now looking for other alternatives, one of them being Ismaila Sarr.
Sarr is a talented and exciting winger who has the speed, strength and energy to drive past opposition defenders, averaging 1.7 dribbles per game in the Premier League last season. The Senegalese international impressed in his first season in the Premier League, scoring five times and assisting six times in 28 league games.
The 6’1″ winger predominantly plays on the right-wing, but he has played as a central striker on a few occasions as well. Manchester United have been poor in the two games that they have played in the Premier League this season, losing to Crystal Palace and narrowly defeating Brighton, in what was a lucky result for the side.
These two games have shown that the Red Devils are not up to full match fitness, while more worryingly, they don’t have the cutting edge to break down teams that press and sit deep in defence. The performance did improve in the EFL Cup against Brighton, but that was against a weaker team.
Sarr could be a solution to these problems with his direct running, using his speed and strength to good effect. The 22-year-old has also shown that he can chip in with goals, even in a struggling Watford side.
If Manchester United cannot complete the Jadon Sancho deal, they should target Sarr, who could become a top player for Manchester United. He has already played and impressed in the Premier League, and has the potential to hit the ground running.