Ismaila Sarr is Crystal Palace’s number one attacking target but, according to The Sun (11 April page 67), the Premier League outfit would have to invest a club-record transfer fee in the red-hot Watford winger.
Sarr took his sweet time but, after a sluggish start to the campaign, the £29 million Senegal international is starting to tear the Championship apart at last.
Better late than never, we suppose.
A lethal brace in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Reading, one curled in brilliantly with his left before doubling his tally with a scorching right-footed drive, means Sarr has hit 12 goals and ten assists in 36 second-tier games this season.
And with Watford now cruising in the automatic promotion positions, nine points clear of third-placed Brentford, it feels increasingly likely Sarr will be sticking around for a third season at Vicarage Road.
The Sun claims Watford will be under no pressure to sell if they seal promotion back to the top flight.
Crystal Palace, then, may be on a hiding to nothing as they look to lure the former Rennes speedster to Selhurst Park, regardless of whether they are willing to pay a club-record fee for his services.
“Isma is having an outstanding season,” teammate Kiko Femenia told Watford’s official website this weekend.
“He is a top-class player and I enjoy playing alongside him so much.”
The report adds Palace are also considering a move for World Cup-winning France international Florian Thauvin.
The one-time Newcastle youngster is out of contract this summer, although it has been suggested Thauvin is closing in on a new deal at Ligue 1 crisis club Marseille.
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