Newcastle United’s interest in Watford’s Ismaila Sarr has intensified in recent days - with the Magpies able to fit the winger into their summer spending budget.
The 24-year-old is set to be in high demand this summer, with Newcastle one of several clubs who have already sent scouts to Vicarage Road. Watford’s relegation looks all but confirmed and they will need to offload their £65,000-per-week star to stabilise financially.
Sarr has scored five goals and made two assists in the Premier League this season, although his campaign has been hampered by injury and the burden of playing for a poor Hornets side - although his year was improved by his African Cup of Nations win as part of the Senegal team.
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And the Watford man is much-loved by managers and teammates alike, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Roy Hodgson and Ben Foster all singing the former Rennes man’s praises.
Speaking to the Athletic in 2019, Mane said of Sarr: “He’s rapid. I think defenders will struggle. Last time I was speaking to Robbo [Andy Robertson] I said ‘Watford have a really good player. I will need to help you more otherwise Ismaila Sarr will kill you, because he is a good dribbler and very, very fast.”
Speaking during Sarr’s successful AFCON campaign, Watford manager Hodgson hailed the winger’s quality and compared him to Crystal Palace talisman Wilfred Zaha.
"It is going to be vital to have a player of his quality.” Hodgson said. “I had a situation in my previous job at Crystal Palace where we had a player not too dissimilar, Wilf Zaha.
"There was a comparable accusation that when Wilf didn't play, we didn't get the wins or results. I am used to that one, but if he [Sarr] can do as much to help this club as Wilf did for me at Palace, I shall be really happy, and I believe he can."
While Hornets goalkeeper Ben Foster said: “Ismaila Sarr at Watford at the minute is frightening, honestly he is frightening. How fast this guy is, I’ve never seen anything like it. His acceleration is phenomenal.”
There will be plenty of eyes on Sarr going into the summer transfer window, including those who Newcastle hope to challenge for European football in the near future. Watford have their man tied to a contract until 2024 so are in a strong position when it comes to selling, but teams like Newcastle will be fully aware of how desperate the relegated side will be to cut his wages off their books.
For the Magpies, the task will be luring the player up to St James’ Park before established Champions League sides can swoop in, but former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has said it would be great bit of business if they can act quickly.
“He’s a brilliant player,” Campbell told Football Insider. “Dangerous, quick, strong, can play in multiple positions across the front three – he ticks a lot of boxes.
“That would be a really good bit of business if they can nip in and steal him away. The writing's on the wall for Watford really, they look likely to go down. He’s one of the players likely to be most coveted by other teams, so Newcastle better move quickly and get in there.”
