Everton have 'legit interest' in signing £35m star at Goodison Park | OneFootball

Everton hold a legitimate interest in Watford and Senegal international Ismaïla Sarr, as Frank Lampard looks to add to his attacking options at Goodison Park, journalist Simon Phillips has told GiveMeSport.

The attack-minded wide man has been on World Cup duty with Aliou Cissé’s Lions of Teranga squad this winter, before their eventual last-16 exit at the hands of England.

Everton transfer news – Ismaïla Sarr

According to Tutto Udinese, Sarr would like to leave Watford in search of a new challenge, with Everton having enquired to the Vicarage Road side about the winger’s availability this winter.

However, the same publication reports that the Toffees have been scared off by the 24-year-old’s price tag, with the Championship side demanding a £35m fee for his services, with the report suggesting that a move to Udinese in Serie A could be on the cards.

The Guardian’s Ed Aarons has previously told GiveMeSport that the speedster is an “unbelievable talent when focused” amid reported interest from Aston Villa.

And Phillips has suggested that Everton’s interest in Sarr “is legit” with Lampard holding an interest in the Senegal star as far back as when he was the head coach of Chelsea.

What has Phillips said about Everton and Sarr?

Phillips told GiveMeSport: “It’s an interesting link because I know when Frank Lampard was at Chelsea, he [Sarr] was one of the names that he put forward to the Chelsea board when he was looking at attackers.

“You can be pretty sure that the interest there is legit, especially from Frank Lampard’s side.”

1 of 32

Who is this ARGENTINA player?

Cristian Romero Nicolas Otamendi

How did Sarr perform at the World Cup?

Sarr only managed to find the back of the net once in Qatar, albeit scoring a goal in which he kept his nerve as he put Senegal in front from the penalty spot against Ecuador, in a game which secured their place in the second phase of the competition.

Cissé trusted the Watford star enough to start him from the off in all four of the Lions of Teranga’s fixtures, in which the Saint-Louis-born forward was deployed mainly on the left wing, according to Transfermarkt.

The former Premier League star earned himself an average WhoScored rating of 7.02 for his performances in Qatar, ranking him as Senegal’s second-best performing player which suggests he can perform on the biggest stage when it matters.

Sarr would be a welcome attacking reinforcement for Everton at this stage of the season, with the Toffees having only been able to find the back of the net 12 times so far in the league this campaign.

In the Championship, the 50-time Senegal winger has been relatively productive this season, finding the back of the net six times and providing three assists in 17 appearances according to Transfermarkt, suggesting that if he could replicate this form in the Premier League he would be a positive addition Lampard’s side at Goodison Park.