West Ham United are reportedly ready to make a £25 million bid for Watford’s Senegalese speed merchant Ismaila Sarr.
According to the latest print edition of Daily Mirror, as cited by Hammers News, West Ham United are the clear front-runners to sign Ismaila Sarr from Watford and are plotting a £25 million swoop to capture the Senegalese international from under the noses of Premier League rivals Newcastle United.
Sarr has been an ever-present figure for Watford since joining from French outfit Stade Rennais back in 2019 for a reported deal worth up to £40 million and has impressed over the past three years. He has gone on to feature in 92 games across all competitions, directly contributing to 42 goals in the process (24 goals, 18 assists).
The 24-year-old fired the Hornets to promotion to the top-flight in the 2020/21 season by scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in 39 outings in the Championship. However, Sarr was unable to prevent his side from being demoted straight back to the second-tier this past season.
Sarr did put up some bright performances and could be offered the chance to stay in the Premier League next season with a host of top-flight clubs interested in securing his services. Despite an injury-plagued 2021/22 season, the 24-year-old winger managed to produce a respectable total of seven direct goal contributions from 22 league appearances.
With Sarr’s current deal at Vicarage Road running until 2024, the winger is one of the Hornets’ most valuable players. But with new manager Rob Edwards planning a squad revamp and with the player himself seeking a departure, Watford are willing to sell their prized asset for a cut-price £25 million as they look to reinvest in their squad ahead of the upcoming Championship season.
Newcastle United were thought to be the Senegalese attacker’s likeliest destination after holding constructive talks with his agents. But it appears West Ham have stolen the march on the Magpies and are now in pole position to capture the Watford star in a deal understood to be worth around £25 million.
David Moyes is scouring for an ideal successor for Andriy Yarmolenko, who will depart from the London Stadium after his contract expires this summer. West Ham are targeting a player who is flexible enough to play across the frontline in order to offer support for their lone recognised striker, Michail Antonio.
Sarr, with his versatility, fits the bill, making him a prominent target for Moyes. He is a quality winger and has blistering pace in his locker which is an effective weapon in transitions, and his direct dribbling approach on the touchline might provide West Ham with an added dimension.
Furthermore, with reports coming out that Said Benrahma could be on his way out of the London Stadium, the Hammers could do with a versatile attacker like Sarr. His physicality and explosiveness would suit West Ham’s direct style of football perfectly. It will be interesting to see whether a £25 million bid will be enough to lure the Senegalese international away from Watford.