West Ham United have reportedly renewed interest in Watford striker Ismaila Sarr after he slipped through Liverpool’s fingers in the summer window.
Reporter says West Ham will try to sign Man City star if Guardiola makes surprise move
The Hammers were linked with a move for Sarr in the summer window.
But finances and the emergence of Liverpool as favourites for his signature put paid to any prospect of a deal.
Liverpool out of the picture after being price out of move for West Ham target during the summer
At one stage it was even reported Liverpool had ‘reached an agreement’ with Watford for a player West Ham had also targeted while he was at Rennes (France Football and talkSPORT).
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had been suitably impressed by Sarr when he terrorised the Reds defence and scored a brace as Watford beat them 3-0 last season.
Sarr’s performance that day made people sit up and take notice. It seemed to be a watershed moment and when Watford were relegated it was inevitable he would move on.
But Sarr slipped through Liverpool’s fingers when they baulked at Watford’s demands for £50million (Express).
And he remained at Vicarage Road in the Championship. There he has hardly set the world alight, scoring four goals in 18 appearances and providing two assists (WhoScored.com).
Watford run risk of key asset plummeting in value if they don’t get promoted as Moyes is linked with Sarr again
As a result Watford’s bid to bounce straight back to the Premier League hangs in the balance at the halfway stage. The Hornets are sixth in second tier, 10 points off top spot.
So the value of their asset Sarr could dwindle rapidly.
That may play into West Ham’s hands after a new report claimed David Moyes has renewed his interest in Sarr.
With Liverpool off the scene, Moyes wants to use the money raised through the sale of Sebastien Haller to bring Sarr to West Ham claims The Sun.
SunSport claims West Ham are prepared to bid more than the £25m Crystal Palace offered on deadline day of the last window.
Despite a lack of goals, Sarr would be perfect for West Ham.
Sarr lacks goals now but would be perfect for West Ham as Moyes’s latest convert
The Senegal forward is incredibly quick, strong and versatile. Who does that sound like West Ham fans?
Well he could be the new Michail Antonio for West Ham. Given Moyes’s record of turning raw wide forwards into deadly Premier League strikers, Sarr would be in good hands.
At 22, he fits the profile of player Moyes is trying to bring to West Ham.
The only issue, once again, will be financing a deal.
The Sun claims West Ham will bid as much as £30m. But that would require owners David Sullivan and David Gold finding another £10m on top of the Haller money.
And according to reports from the likes of West Ham insiders Claret & Hugh before Haller’s sale, that money just is not there.
Sarr is just one of a plethora of strikers West Ham have been linked with since Haller’s departure.
One thing is for certain they need another forward with Antonio Moyes’s only striker.
And they need one quickly. But the Hammers also need to get it right after a string of failed striker signings under Sullivan and Gold.
Because they only have one forward, West Ham have left themselves in a desperate situation where a decision may have to be rushed.
It will certainly make for an interesting transfer window.
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