Ismaila Sarr (Getty Images)
According to The Independent, Man United have joined the race to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr after being left frustrated in their efforts to land England international Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
While Sancho remains the No.1 target for the Red Devils, Dortmund’s refusal to budge on their £100million-plus valuation of the 20-year-old has prompted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to look for cheaper alternatives in the market. (h/t Independent)
As per the report, United would need to cough up a fee of at least £30million to get their hands on Sarr, who has also been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.
Born in Saint Louis, Senegal, Ismaila Sarr completed his development at Generation Foot in his homeland before signing a professional contract with French Ligue 1 club Metz in 2016.
He scored 5 goals in 33 appearances in his only season at Metz before moving on to join domestic rivals Rennes, where he carved out a reputation for himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the French top-flight.
The 22-year-old accumulated 18 goals and 16 assists in 77 appearances for Rennes over the course of two seasons before joining Watford in the summer of 2019. Sarr was one of the brightest sparks of a dismal 2019-20 campaign for the Hornets that ended in relegation from the top-flight.
The Senegalese winger impressed with 6 goals and 6 assists in 30 appearances for the London outfit across all competitions last term, earning widespread appreciation.
Man United aren’t really short of options in the wide areas of the pitch. Marcus Rashford and academy sensation Mason Greenwood both enjoyed a prolific campaign last time around as the Red Devils finished third in the Premier Leauge and made it to the semi-final of the Europa League.
Daniel James, who arrived at Old Trafford from Swansea City last summer, proved his worth as more than a handy back-up in Solskjaer’s ranks. Anthony Martial was also deployed out wide at times but it goes without saying that the Frenchman looked far more potent in a centre-forward role.
Martial, Rashford and Greenwood shared more than 40 goals among them in the league last season but the lack of quality contribution from other squad players like Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, and Andreas Pereira put a lot of pressure on the first-team regulars.
Suffice to say, United need more depth in their attack if they are to close the gap on Liverpool and Man City in the Premier League. The Red Devils are also set to compete in the Champions League this term, so they will definitely need more options to rotate their squad and prevent a potential burnout due to the testing schedule.
To put things into perspective, Ismaila Sarr ticks all the boxes as a hungry young player with loads of potential and one who presents an excellent long-term option for the Red Devils moving forward.
The 22-year-old made a positive impression for a relegated side last term, which clearly indicates that he is capable of producing better returns when teamed up with top-quality players. Moreover, his brace in Watford’s 3-0 win over Liverpool in February remains a prime example of the youngster’s ability to shine against the big teams in the division.
Sarr’s versatility to play out wide on either flank, coupled with his ability to deliver goals and assists, should hand a welcome boost to United’s attack. The Senegalese international still has his best years ahead of him and should be available for a fraction of Dortmund’s £100million asking price for Sancho.
Having said that, Man United would be wise enough to avoid paying over the odds for the England winger and turn their focus to the African starlet instead.