A busy man in the summer, Thierno Seydi thought he might have a chance of moving Ismaïla Sarr from Watford.
That, however, never happened, but the opportunity presented itself once again in January, with Liverpool reportedly interested in the player.
Struggling to find goals compared to last season all the while succumbing to injuries at the back, Jürgen Klopp’s side appear to be coming to the end of a cycle, with a rejuvenation perhaps on its way.
Diogo Jota was the first sign of that, and the apparent desire to sign Sarr all but confirms it.
The move wasn’t to be, however, as Thierno Seydi explained to Panafricanfootball.
He said: “With Liverpool, a few days ago, we were at the stage of signing the contract that would tie the Reds to Ismaïla Sarr. Everything was sorted: the monthly wages and the length of the deal. I’d even asked Sadio Mané to find him an apartment.
“But it in the end, the English club weren’t able to put the €40m 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”.
Staying at Watford their return to the Championship, Sarr has been in good form for the Hornets, scoring five goals and assisting another six in 24 league appearances.
Liverpool fans will remember him from last season, as he was the catalyst in what ended up being the club’s first loss of the campaign in a 3-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.
