In recent years, there has been hardly any summer transfer window in which Manchester United have not had to deal with the rush hours of the market. The last one was no different, with not only the financial impact of the pandemic but also the failure in signing required players in quick succession bothering those inside the camp as well as the ones keeping tabs on their activities from outside.
The arrival of Donny van de Beek was quick. But soon after that, there was no tangible movement in regard to incomings. At one time, everything became so desolate that it seemed as if expecting another new acquisition would be misleading oneself.
And it took almost the last day of the summer transfer market – the deadline day – for United to break their fortitude and actually salvage something out of what could have been a disastrous off-season business.
In what might feel very courageous from the Red Devils right now, they pulled off four deals on that very day. However, the winger Manchester United were pursuing all summer long, Jadon Sancho, was not on the list.
Manchester United made a failed attempt to sign Ismaila Sarr
Even the ones whom Manchester United had seen as a possible alternative to Sancho didn’t make a deadline day switch either. Instead, it was two young wingers in Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo Traore who earned a move to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
With Manchester United forced to suspend their interest in Sancho, one of the other candidates that the Red Devils rather chose to track down last summer was Watford’s Ismaïla Sarr. A former Liverpool target, Sarr was a viable option to look into as his club had just got relegated from the Premier League.
Despite showcasing healthy interest in the 22-year-old starlet, the deal never materialised. And while speaking to Pan African Football, the youngster’s agent, Thierno Seydi, revealed that the Red Devils had come very close to obtaining the services of the Senegal international and also explained why the deal didn’t materialise. He said:
"“During the summer, the Manchester club wanted to sign the Senegalese forward. At the last moment, they offered a loan without an option, which Watford didn’t accept because the loan was expected to be accompanied by an option with right of first refusal for the Manchester club”."
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Having failed to find any club both in summer and in January as well, Sarr has had to stay put at the Championship side. He has played 24 games in the second tier of English football for the Hornets this season, garnering five goals and six assists so far.
Manchester United’s need for a right-winger has lessened over the last few weeks, with Solskjaer keeping faith in Mason Greenwood and looking forward to introducing Amad Diallo on the same position sooner than later.
Several reports also suggest that United still hold interest in Sancho, who is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the upcoming summer, as the Bundesliga giants are struggling financially at the moment and might depend on his departure to balance the books.
But is there any chance of United going after Sarr in the near future? Most probably the ship has sailed and won’t return to the harbour ever again.