Journalist names two PL sides who could challenge Man Utd, Liverpool for Champ star ‘set to leave’ | OneFootball

Ismaila Sarr is ‘set to leave’ Watford in the summer transfer window, according to Adam Leventhal, amid interest from Man Utd and Liverpool.

The Senegal international has contributed nine goals and six assists in 31 appearances for the Hornets this campaign as they’ve struggled to put together a promotion push.

Watford, who appointed Chris Wilder as Slaven Bilic’s replacement earlier this month, are currently tenth in the Championship table and five points adrift of the play-off places with just eight matches to play.

They will still be confident they can sneak into the play-offs before the end of the season but The Athletic journalist Leventhal claims Sarr is ‘set to leave Watford at the end of the season even if they bounce straight back to the Premier League’.

Watford are losing their window of opportunity if they want to cash in on Sarr with the 25-year-old having just over a year left on his existing contract.

And Leventhal reveals that ‘the plan is for him to move on from Vicarage Road whatever happens over the final two months of the campaign’.

Man Utd and Liverpool are again being linked as both clubs have ‘considered a move’ in the past while two other Premier League sides could also be in the frame.

Aston Villa saw a £25m summer transfer for Sarr fall through at the last minute while Crystal Palace ‘have also kept a close eye on his situation over the last few seasons’.

Wilder has switched to a 3-5-2 formation while Sarr has been injured in the last two matches with Watford picking up four points.

On Sarr’s injury issue, Wilder said on Saturday: “He didn’t make today obviously and that’s an ongoing issue.

“I think there’s been a conversation between the club from a medical point of view with the Senegal federation, explaining it’s best for him to stay here and receive treatment.”

On how Sarr can fit into his new formation, Wilder added: “He can play up front at the top of the pitch as a striker or as a number 10.

“If he’s going to be the player that everybody expects him to be, and play at the highest level as a forward, you’ve got to play in the pitch and out the pitch.

“You’ve got to have pace, you’ve got to have touch, you’ve got to score. From his point of view it won’t do him any harm to play down the middle.

“We’re not unbelievably set on things. We’ll keep looking at the formation to see what works the best.

“He’s been a big player here and hopefully he’ll be a big player in the last eight games.”