Pranav Nair
Manchester United failed in their efforts to land Ismaila Sarr last summer
With the summer transfer window winding down, Manchester United made a late move to bring in Watford ace Ismaila Sarr to Old Trafford.
The deal never materialized and the Senegalese winger stayed put at Vicarage Road. The player’s agent has since opened up on the sequence of events that saw the move fall apart. (h/t Manchester Evening News)
United spent the whole summer trying to bring in Jadon Sancho. With the deal proving impossible, Sarr was seen as an alternative.
However, it would appear that the Red Devils only saw the 22-year-old as a temporary option. United were keen on loaning the player and weren’t in favour of inserting an option to buy.
Moreover, United also wanted to include a clause that would give them first refusal rights if any future bid came in for the Senegalese ace. Given our desperation for a right-winger, Ed Woodward really overplayed his hand here.
“At the last moment, they offered a loan without an option, which Watford didn’t accept because the loan was expected to be accompanied by an option with right of first refusal for the Manchester club.”
A different shade of Red!
Sarr eventually stayed put at Watford but has not found himself lacking suitors. Premier League champions Liverpool came close to signing him in January but were unable to secure the funds needed.
Sadio Mane and Sarr are close and a move to Merseyside would have seen both the Senegalese internationals join forces.
“Everything was sorted: the monthly wages and the length of the deal. I’d even asked Sadio Mane to find him an apartment.”
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News of our interest in Sarr has gone cold in recent months. The youngster despite his potential is still raw and a work in progress. He could go on to become a star under the right manager.
It remains to be seen if United will revisit a deal to sign the winger come next summer.
