Liverpool have been backed to sign Ismaila Sarr.
The Birmingham Mail reported that Kevin Kilbane thinks the Watford man will be ‘perfect for Liverpool’, and urged Jurgen Klopp to move on Divock Origi.
Origi found minutes hard to come by after the lockdown as a combination of Curtis Jones, Takumi Minamino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were prefered by the German, and it looks like his future is under threat once more.
A few ago the Hornets were believed to have named their price, but fresh information from Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol indicates that they want up to £50 million for the Senegalese international.
According to Kilbane, Liverpool should try to sell Origi and make room for Ismaila Sarr – who he rates as better than the Belgian and more likely to ensure a consistency of quality when he comes into the side.
"He said: “They don’t need much but Origi isn’t of the class of the starting front three. Sarr would be a better option for them, he is unbelievably quick and while he has a lot to improve on, Klopp would be the ideal man to get the best out of him.“He’s more pacey and would be perfect for Liverpool.”"
Sarr impressed during his debut season, which is partly the reason for his high asking price. Watford signed him from Rennes for £30 million and will want to make a profit on that number.
🗣"Gary Neville said if Manchester United can't get Sancho they should try to get him, Crystal Palace and Liverpool are also interested" @SkyKaveh on the future of Ismaïla Sarr@GNev2 pic.twitter.com/4cPXrwX2dV
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 11, 2020
After scoring five goals and assisting six in 28 Premier League appearances, the Hornets would have been looking forward to seeing how the Senegalese star can develop in the top flight – but that may be someone else’s job now.
If Sarr came into the Liverpool side, he would face a fight for regular minutes. Origi wouldn’t be his direct competition because the Belgian tends to operate on the left or through the middle, but Xherdan Shaqiri and Harry Wilson are both in the squad, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Minamino have played on the right.
Sporting director Michael Edwards will need to secure buyers for a number of players before moving for someone as expensive as Sarr, no matter how perfect he might be for the side.
Although this move would be exciting, it’s probably not one that’s going to happen overnight. Expect a few sales to move through first.