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Report: Liverpool move to the front of the queue as they pursue £50m star

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Image for Report: Liverpool move to the front of the queue as they pursue £50m star

Liverpool have moved into pole position to sign the Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, according to reports.

What’s the word?

A wide range of outlets have linked with the Reds with a move for the Senegal international, who suffered relegation with the Hornets last season.

Last week, the Watford Observer claimed that Jurgen Klopp’s side had made contact with the club to potentially sign Sarr in time for the 2020/21 campaign.

Sky Sports added to this by saying that Watford have set the boundaries by demanding a fee of £40m for the tricky wide man, having brought him to Vicarage Road last summer for a club-record £25m.

Now, the Evening Standard believe that Crystal Palace have put themselves into the mix to sign the former Rennes star, which effectively puts Liverpool in the driving seat to secure his services this summer.

But Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol (via Football Daily) feels that it could take an offer as much as £50m for Watford to accept and complete the deal.

Could Ismaila Sarr eventually succeed Mane?

Yes, absolute beast

Yes, absolute beast

No, Mane is on another level

No, Mane is on another level

Mohamed Salah successor

Sarr himself confessed that he would like to move to Liverpool, speaking in an interview with the Senegalese news outlet SansLimitesn.

This puts the Reds in a good position to get their man, depending on how Watford are with the club when it comes to negotiations.

Last season, the 22-year-old  managed to score six goals and provided four assists form 23 starts and 30 appearances in all competitions for the Hertfordshire based outfit (as per Whoscored), including a brace which stopped Liverpool from going the entire season unbeaten.

These statistics are reassuring for a player that ended up dropping down to the Championship last season. As well as this, he managed to average 1.6 shots per game, 1.7 dribbles and a pass success rate of 81.5%, per Whoscored.

The figures above suggest that Sarr would mould into Klopp’s style of play comfortably, and as a right-sided midfielder, there is every chance that he could fill the shoes that current fan favourite Mohamed Salah will eventually vacate.

But with the price tag as high as it is, it is uncertain where Liverpool would be willing to look for some loose change that has fallen down the side of the sofa to get him.

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