Everton are 'exploring' the possibility of a £35million January bid for Watford talisman Ismaila Sarr, according to the Mirror.
The Toffees are reportedly among several admirers of the Senegal international, whose six goals and three assists leave the Hornets fourth in the Championship and battling for automatic promotion. Sarr saw his World Cup campaign ended with the 3-0 defeat to England last Sunday and could be back in domestic action as soon as tomorrow, when his side host Hull City.
Toffees manager Frank Lampard is expected to prioritise attacking reinforcements once the winter window opens, and late summer bids for Mykhaylo Mudryk and Mohammed Kudus paint a picture of the calibre of player wanted at Goodison Park. Everton are the joint-second lowest scorers in the Premier League this season and a failure to find the net in their last three league games will see the Blues spend Christmas Day just one point and one place above the relegation zone.
READ MORE: Everton news and transfers LIVE - Armando Broja blow, Jordan Pickford claim, Andros Townsend message
Several forwards are expected to be linked with a move to Goodison Park over the next few weeks, and a return to Watford for the fourth time in four years for Sarr is the latest point of interest. Everton spent a combined £62million in luring Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure over from Vicarage Road since 2018 and also paid the Hornets around £4.5million compensation when appointing Marco Silva as manager.
Any interest is expected to be short-lived, however, with Watford boss Slaven Bilic desperate to keep hold of all his starts in a bid to ensure promotion to the Premier League. Sarr has been pivotal in the run of form that has seen Watford steadily climb the table, and Bilic this week insisted the wingers' presence is needed over the second-half of the season.
“After the England game, he flew home to Senegal with the whole squad, it was a big success for them to get past the group stage, and we gave him a few days off to see his family,” Bilic said of Sarr.
“There is no fitness issue. Before the World Cup break, he played in every game since I was here, and he played in almost every minute in Qatar, so if anything he needed a little rest. But everyone knows what he means to our team – he is one of the best players in the Championship, and we will need him on the pitch if we are going to do what we want to do.
“I can trust him to play at a high level. It's not the first time he has been away with Senegal, he is a good boy, a top professional. Apart from the goalkeeper, he is the only player who has started every game since I've been here apart from the last one, so why question his character?”
READ NEXT
-
Former Everton staff member slams 'absolute nonsense' rumours about James Rodriguez
-
Everton hero loved Goodison Park but his greatest moment ended up meaning nothing
-
Andros Townsend gives 'honest' Goncalo Ramos verdict as Portugal star linked with Everton transfer
-
Petty Jordan Pickford claims about Everton and England are myth and sheer ignorance
