Newcastle United and West Ham United might just be competing on the field of play next season, as both teams push for Europe.
But the same could be happening in the summer transfer market, as the duo are seemingly keen to sign Ismaila Sarr from Watford.
Watford were relegated from the Premier League this season, so if they want to keep their star winger, then life is going to be a lot more difficult, even if they paid £40 million for his services to Rennes back in 2019, as reported by Sky Sports.
Back in 2020, former Everton winger, Gerard Deulofeu, who got to see what Sarr is all about first-hand in training, stated that his now-former teammate is a ‘really good player’ for the future and someone who has ‘amazing’ pace, as quoted by Goal.
Well, could either West Ham or Newcastle supporters see Sarr burning his pace down their flanks next season? Only time will tell.
“He’s [Sarr] a really good player,” said Deulofeu. “A really young player, his pace is amazing and it helps the team a lot because when we do the counter-attacks from both sides.
“He gets good assists, good goals. In the present and in the future, he’s going to be a really good player for Watford so we’re really happy to have him in the team.”
WILL RELEGATION SEASON FOR SARR BE OFF-PUTTING?
At 24-years-old, Sarr has plenty of time to take his game up a few more levels, but will the recently-concluded season be off-putting for interested parties?
The Senegal international didn’t exactly light it up in Watford colours, as he scored five goals and supplied two assists from his 22 Premier League games.
All five of those goals came by November, but from then on, Sarr could only manage two assists, as a big injury during the winter period didn’t help his cause, including missing his country winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
But, perhaps he has shown enough that in a settled side, in West Ham’s case, one that will be in Europe, he can take his game to another level.
Or for Newcastle, who are now riding a wave, he is good enough to be a part of their long-term project of wanting to return to the top of English football.