Liverpool sanction £40m bid for winger preferred to Traore for two reasons

Liverpool are willing to meet the £40m asking price for Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, according to reports.

The Premier League champions have identified Sarr as the perfect competition for their front three. Liverpool have one of the most fearsome attacks around, but do need to increase their depth in that area.

Sarr has become a major target for Liverpool after Watford’s relegation from the Premier League. The 22-year-old impressed against them when Watford became the first team to beat Liverpool in the league last season.

With Liverpool well aware of Sarr’s potential, they are now considering signing the player. Sarr is an international teammate of Sadio Mane, who could help convince him to move to Anfield.

However, despite their relegation, Watford are refusing to let Sarr go on the cheap. In fact, they have set the asking price at around £40m.

According to The Sun, that’s a price Liverpool are willing to pay. The Merseyside club admire Sarr because of his versatility, as he can play as a winger or a centre-forward.

 

Liverpool had also been considering a move for Wolves star Adama Traore. However, they prefer Sarr for two reasons: first, that Traore does not share Sarr’s versatility, and secondly, that the Watford man would be more patient for first team opportunities.

Therefore, they are willing to press ahead with their efforts to sign the Senegal international. Having only added Kostas Tsimikas to their title-winning squad so far, they still have transfer funds to spend.

Sarr even declared his admiration of Liverpool in an interview earlier in August. Speaking in his homeland of a potential move to Anfield, he admitted that “everyone would love to play there”.

BREWSTER COULD BE SOLD TO MAKE ROOM FOR SARR

Rhian Brewster

The Sun add that signing Sarr could push Rhian Brewster out at Anfield for good. The young striker missed his penalty in the shootout defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, despite impressing elsewhere in pre-season.

A number of clubs are interested in Brewster, with Jurgen Klopp yet to make a decision on him. However, the added competition that would come from Sarr’s arrival may mean Brewster’s future definitely lies away from Anfield.

In fact, The Sun claim Liverpool could even sell Brewster, rather than loan him out again. That will put Crystal Palace and Sheffield United on alert, while Newcastle have also reportedly made an enquiry.

The 20-year-old impressed on loan at Swansea in the second half of last season, scoring 11 goals in 22 games.

Klopp took the blame for his penalty miss after the Community Shield, saying the key moment “will not harm” Brewster – who he then described as a “real finisher”- but he may still have to move him on.