Manchester United came “extremely close” to signing Ismaila Sarr from Watford during the summer of 2020, claims former Watford technical director Filippo Giraldi.
The Senegal international suffered relegation out of the Premier League last season, but offered enough during his time in the English top flight to attract admiring glances from heavyweight outfits.
Liverpool were another of his suitors, as they considered pairing the 23-year-old with his fellow countryman Sadio Mane at Anfield, but United came closest to pulling off a deal.
What has been said?
Giraldi has told the Here We Go podcast of the interest shown in Sarr from Old Trafford: “We were extremely close, I was personally negotiating with them.
“We weren't able to reach an agreement. And I think Ismaila is very young, he will arrive for sure.
“He missed probably an opportunity, but I think also for his football to stay here and get 10 goals and 10 assists, he's deciding the league.
“I think for Watford in the condition they are at the moment it's lucky he stayed.
Getty Images“I love Ismaila because he has the ability to affect the game every time he plays, and that's quite rare.
“You see fast wingers becoming more and more important in physical leagues like the Premier League.
“I remember last year against Manchester United and Liverpool, he was the one with Gerard Deulofeu on the other side affecting the game and deciding the game every time.
“This type of player are players you have to try to maximise and protect them as much as you can.”
Sarr’s record at Watford
The Hornets invested more than £30 million ($41m) in luring Sarr away from Rennes in 2019.
He hit six goals during his debut campaign, including memorable efforts in the first defeat inflicted on Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side surged towards a Premier League title triumph.
Sarr showed that he could cut it among English football’s elite, but now finds himself turning out in the second tier.
Nine goals and four assists have been recorded this season, with that contribution helping Watford to position themselves among the Championship promotion hopefuls.