Manager says he has ‘not had a bid’ from Leeds or Everton for £25m star

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Watford manager Rob Edwards insists Premier League duo Leeds United, Everton or Crystal Palace have not yet made a bid for £25 million-rated Senegal international Ismaila Sarr, speaking to the Watford Observer. 

The former Rennes winger stuck around the last time Watford were relegated from England’s top flight. But does he have the appetite for another gruelling Championship season?  

There can be no concerns about Sarr’s professionalism – that 60-yard wonder-strike against West Brom will take some beating in the Goal of the Season stakes – but the chance to return to the Premier League may be too good to turn down, especially with the Qatar World Cup just three months away. 

Reports earlier this week suggested that Crystal Palace had seen an £18 million bid rejected for Sarr. Everton are also in the running, per The Standard, while Leeds were in advanced negotiations to sign the one-time Liverpool target before Patrick Vieira’s Palace moved into pole position. 

Ismaila Sarr linked with Leeds, Everton and Crystal Palace

Edwards, however, insists that Watford are yet to receive an official offer with just two weeks of the window remaining.

“The situation with Isma is pretty clear. We’ve not had a bid from anyone,” says the former Forest Green Rovers coach.

Speculation over Sarr’s future went into overdrive this week. He was nowhere to be seen as Watford drew 1-1 with Birmingham City at St Andrews on Tuesday night. According to Edwards, however, a ‘minor hamstring complaint’ was the reason for Sarr’s absence, rather than anything gossip-fuelled.

“Where he’s at with fitness is he trained part of the session yesterday,” the manager adds. “Which is good. We’ll monitor him and keep assessing him up until Saturday’s game (against Preston North End).”

Leeds, according to FootMercato, may have to sell one of their existing attackers before bringing Sarr to Elland Road. Jack Harrison, a target for Newcastle United, appears to be the most sellable, though Jesse Marsch is unlikely to readily sacrifice a player who continues to be a reliable source of creativity from the flanks. 

In two Premier League seasons, Harrison has 16 goals and nine assists. Sarr, meanwhile, has 10 and six respectively.