Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands can save Carlo Ancelotti’s Goodison Park natives from rushing in the winter to add depth behind James Rodriquez by forging a late move to sign Watford ace Ismaila Sarr, despite downplayed links.

What’s the word?

According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton have limited interest in signing Sarr during the final week of the domestic transfer market, having decided with Ancelotti that efforts will predominantly be spent attempting to offload those deemed surplus to requirements.

Muhamed Besic and Yannick Bolasie are expected to court Championship moves after failing to secure deals before Monday’s international Deadline Day, while the Toffees remain open to loans or sales for Under 23 stars Beni Baningime, Callum Connolly, Nathan Broadhead and perineal outcast Matty Pennington.

Brands is yet to rule out dipping his toe into the EFL market before the October 16th shut off, with the lower tiers brimming with players that could offer something to Ancelotti following Everton’s unbeaten start to the season.

Manchester United have previously been linked with a move for Sarr following Watford’s relegation from the Premier League last term, however the Red Devils have recently opted against pursuing a deal as the Hornets would only be interested in a permanent transfer rather than the loan move proposed by Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward.

Liverpool, likewise, have been touted as a potential suitor, although Watford have been set on a £40million asking price for the 22-year-old signed a year ago for the same figure, and given that they've just signed Diogo Jota, it seems unlikely that they'd spend big on Sarr too.

January action needed now

While Everton are not expected to go big in the final week of the domestic transfer window either, there is a slight expectation that Brands could consider a change of heart and spend funds in the winter market following two years with less than £1m spent in the January sales.

The right-wing position at Goodison Park is one area where the Toffees may need to explore signings in the mid-season market, which is just 86 days away, as Rodriguez is currently the only natural option for the role with Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi better suited on the left.

Sarr, therefore, could be the ideal option to sign now and land the depth in a key position sooner rather than later, potentially after witnessing niggling injuries derail Everton’s push for European football.

Watford benefited from five goals and four assists over 28 appearances during Sarr’s sole Premier League campaign, similar numbers to what Richarlison achieved in the 2017/18 campaign (five goals, five assists) before his £50m transfer from Vicarage Road.

The Hornets' £25,000-per-week forward also created five big chances that were not converted and spurned six himself, per SofaScore, showing that there is still room for Sarr to develop under Ancelotti, who can tap into the Senegalese star’s average 1.1 shots, 0.9 key balls, 0.6 accurate crosses and 1.7 successful dribbles per game from last season’s top-flight campaign.

AND in other news, an outcast of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans is unlikely to win the Everton boss over despite his Deadline Day decision.