Agent: 'Ismaila Sarr almost joined Liverpool in January'

The agent of Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr has claimed that his client came close to joining Liverpool during the January transfer window.

Sarr was strongly linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United over the summer, but the Hornets managed to keep hold of the 22-year-old despite their relegation to the Championship.

The Senegal international's future has remained the subject of much speculation, with a number of teams throughout to be interested in signing him.

According to the attacker's agent Thierno Seydi, the Reds were on the verge of signing Sarr last month but ultimately could not come up with the £35m fee required to secure a deal.

"With Liverpool, a few days ago, we were at the stage of signing the contract that would tie the Reds to Ismaila Sarr. Everything was sorted: the monthly wages and the length of the deal. I'd even asked Sadio Mane to find him an apartment," Seydi told Panafricanfootball.

"But it in the end, the English club weren't able to put the €40m (£35m) on the table to finalise the affair. You have to say that if English clubs that once animated the transfer window are struggling to put funds together, that shows the depth of the crisis affecting football."

Sarr, who has a contract at Vicarage Road until June 2024, has scored five times and registered six assists in 24 Championship appearances during the 2020-21 campaign.