Crystal Palace may live to regret missing out on Watford winger Ismaila Sarr

by Tom Ward share

2 minute read 18/10/2020 | 08:15am

Crystal Palace have been dealt a devastating blow after they failed to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr on transfer deadline day…

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports, Watford rejected a £25m bid from Palace for the Senegal international. The Hornets were holding out for nearly double that figure, having signed him for a club-record £40m fee from Rennes in 2019.

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Sarr had been tipped to move to Palace, amid interest from Manchester United after failing to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. However, a move failed to materialise, which has forced him to stay at Vicarage Road.

Missed trick?

Sarr, 22, impressed in his debut season in the Premier League, as he scored five goals and supplied five assists in the top flight, via WhoScored.

Despite his young age, he still managed the same amount of shots per game as Wilfried Zaha (1.6), whilst he averaged more key passes per game than Jordan Ayew (0.9) last term.

It’s safe to say that Sarr has often divided opinion, with some like Darren Bent insisting that he is too “inconsistent“, whilst others argue that he simply needs time to grow and develop as a player.

Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that Roy Hodgson has shown that he can get the best out of young players, as Eberechi Eze and Tyrick Mitchell have established themselves as first-team regular starters in recent weeks.

Zaha has played as a striker in the past – just think of all the chaos a front three consisting of Sarr, Zaha and Eze could cause.

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Crystal Palace's first win of the season came in a shock win against Manchester United towards the end of August - but what was the score?

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Once lauded as a “top player” who will “only get better” by Kevin Phillips, you can’t help but feel like Palace may regret the missed opportunity to strike while the iron is hot.

Whilst Sarr may not be the finished article now, there is certainly a lot of potential there. Either way, Hodgson has missed out on the chance to give Palace their dream attack for years to come.

Whether or not the Eagles will try again in the winter transfer window remains to be seen.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace re-sign former Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne…