Transferred from Stade Rennais to Watford last summer, Ismaïla Sarr took a bit of time to get adjusted to the Premier League.
The winger didn’t score his first goal until the end of November, yet slowly but surely he’s managed to pick up some form, now totalling five goals and four assists in 18 league appearances.
Even better for him, two of those goals and one of those assists came at the weekend as Watford produced the shock of the season so far by beating league leaders Liverpool 3-0, stopping their streak of 44 games without losing in England’s top-tier in the process.
The player unselfishly teed up Troy Deeney for the third when he could have tried to get his hat-trick, and, as well as his ability in front of goal, it’s those kind of qualities that have really caught the eye of him teammates.
Speaking to the French press after the game, shown on RMC Sport’s PL Zone, Abdoulaye Doucouré said: “He’s got huge qualities, we saw that at Rennes. He did amazing things. He’s come back from injury, gives us a huge boost. Today, Ismaïla showed all his quality.
“He’s a guy who we get attached to a lot. He’s a really nice boy. He’s very humble, even today when he scored two goals. He’s not the first to celebrate. I have a special affinity for him. I try and help him as much as I can. Isma knows how to deal with it and there’s nothing to say about what he does on the pitch.
“I’ve told him as a joke that he’s a Champions League player, but I really think it because I know he has exceptional qualities. He’s not just quick, he’s incredible at finishing, he can find space, keep the ball and I hope he’ll go very far”.
That’s something Watford teammate Christian Kabasele also said, perhaps in a more light hearted manner.
The Belgian defender said: “We told him laughing that he’s just guaranteed himself his next €100m transfer. Isma is a very talented player. We missed him a lot and his return did us a lot of good today”.
Whether or not Kabasele is right, there’s no denying that interest in the Senegal international will have shot up following that performance, and at only 22 years of age, there’s still plenty of time for that huge transfer to what many would see as a bigger club.
