Tottenham enter race for in-demand World Cup star who wants Premier League return
Tottenham Hotspur director of football Fabio Paratici has reportedly been keeping a close eye on Watford winger Ismaila Sarr ahead of the January transfer window.
The Senegal international has been targeted by a number of Premier League clubs recently, after dazzling for his country at the Qatar World Cup.
Sarr could be another excellent attacking option for Antonio Conte, who is without the injured Richarlison at the moment.
It is believed that Sarr has been looking for a way back to the Premier League since Watford were relegated last season and according to Football.London, Spurs have entered the race for his signature.
The 24-year-old has been a long-term target for Frank Lampard’s Everton, who are also considering a winter move for Sarr, but the winger’s head may be turned by the opportunity of Champions League football under Conte.
Since joining Watford in 2019, Sarr has arguably been their most consistent and impressive player.
Overall, in 111 appearances for the Hornets, Sarr has scored 30 goals and made 21 assists, giving him an outstanding average of 0.46 goal contributions per match.
In 2021/22, playing in the Premier League, the attacker contributed five goals and two assists in the league for Watford, but you have to remember he was playing in a team that always seemed destined to go down.
This season he has been in decent form again, scoring six and assisting three times in 19 league appearances, but it’s worth noting that he always looks like the best player on the pitch when he plays.
Sarr’s best form, though, came playing at the World Cup, where he put in four outstanding performances, helping Senegal to reach the round of 16, scoring one goal against Ecuador in the process.
It is, admittedly, a big step up from the Championship to the Premier League, but playing in a top quality team like Tottenham’s could be exactly what Sarr needs to reach his full potential.
Dynamic Sarr could add another layer to Tottenham front three
As mentioned, Richarlison is currently out of action for Spurs after picking up an injury in Qatar, so they could do with another quality player to fill in for the Brazilian.
Sarr is a dynamic, direct and dangerous player, with the ability to play as a winger on either flank or as a central striker, meaning he could provide cover in multiple positions for Conte.
There are also shock rumours that Harry Kane could leave Spurs this season, so if that does come to fruition, the Italian boss will need as many attacking reinforcements as he can get.
Looking at his stats, Sarr is one of the most exciting players to watch in his division and plays with great confidence in himself.
On average, the Senegalese player has 2.1 shots on target per match, with a goal scoring record of almost one in three. He can also create chances, too, making 0.9 key passes per game.
Sarr is also excellent with the ball at his feet, completing 1.2 successful dribbles per game which can help create chances for himself and his team.
Spurs’ currently fit wingers Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son are both world class players, but if they do sign Sarr in January, he would provide some excellent competition for them both and offer an added goal threat.
For Everton, however, news of Spurs’ interest will come as a disappointment, as they could now miss out on one of their top targets.
