Ismaila Sarr ‘wants to return to the Premier League’ as Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace eye the Championship hotshot, Watford’s sporting director Cristiano Giaretta tells Tuttomercatoweb.
After years of yo-yoing between the top-flight and the second tier, has the string finally snapped?
A play-off spot is not entirely out of the question. But, with a side now under the stewardship of Chris Wilder held at home by relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic last time out, the gap between Watford and the top-six is only widening.
The Hornets succeeded in retaining the services of Sarr, Joao Pedro and co after dropping out of the Premier League a year ago. But another season of Championship football is unlikely to appeal to Ismaila Sarr in particular; The Athletic reporting that the £30 million Senegal international plans to leave with his contract expiring in the summer of 2024.
Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace like Ismaila Sarr
“What is true is one thing; no one wants to return to the Premier League as much as Sarr,” says Giaretta, before insisting that the former Rennes speedster remains committed to Watford for the time being.
“He is dedicated to our cause. And, for us, he is a reference.”
Sarr, The Athletic say, is a long-time target of Crystal Palace. The Eagles, should they stave off the threat of relegation after re-hiring 75-year-old Roy Hodgson, could potentially return for Sarr. Especially with Wilfired Zaha leaving Selhurst Park.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, saw a £25 million deal break down around eight months ago. Unai Emery is planning to bring in a new winger, preferably one with an eye for goal, and Sarr would tick a fair few boxes. He’s scored nine times and set up five more for an underperforming Watford side this term.
Do not rule out Tottenham Hotspur either. Lucas Moura and Arnaut Danjuma are facing uncertain futures in North London. Heung-Min Son also looks a shadow of his once irrepressible self; his 31st birthday fast approaching.
‘Like nothing I’ve ever seen’
“I knew about Ismaïla from his time in France. He will be a top player,” former Watford team-mate and ex-Spurs midfielder Etienne Capoue told Goal. “He can be one of the best in the Premier League.”
“It’s scary, isn’t it, really?,” adds recently-retired goalkeeper Ben Foster (Inside the Hive).” It’s almost like everything seems to just be off the cuff. He is a bit of a freak. Honestly, he is.
“I still don’t think people understand quite how quick Ismaila Sarr is. His acceleration off from a standing start is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And genuinely, I’m being genuine there, I’ve never seen anybody accelerate from a standing start as quick as what he does.
“We need to find a way to get him back in the team as quickly as we can.”
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