Ismaila Sarr’s transfer stance reinforces why Diogo Jota’s decision was a...

Ismaila Sarr is staying for less than a week until the domestic transfer window closes. She remains a Watford player.

When he struck a £ 30 million deal with the Rennes Hornets last summer, he had an impressive, if inconsistent, first season in England. The obvious highlight was his two goals and his 3-0 win over Liverpool in February.

The Reds have been linked to the 22-year-old since then and Watford have been relegated despite Sarr’s best efforts.

The Liverpool bosses had talks with Watford earlier this summer but ultimately decided not to move in favor of Wolves’ Diogo Jota while he remains linked to Manchester United, although no move is imminent.

As such, he remains a championship player, a fate he would not have imagined when he moved to Vicarage Road last summer, and his future remains unsolved.

Having played the Hornets’ first two games, he’s since started ahead in the last two second division games but will hopefully take a step before the window closes on Friday.

Watford’s stance is pretty clear, however, and they would be happy if the Senegalese international stayed on their books until the end of the week.

Athletic Report Club bosses know interest will remain until the domestic window closes, having previously received offers from Liverpool and Manchester United. However, they hope no one will submit an offer that is worth considering.

Watford is said to be charging a transfer fee of £ 45m with a payment structure of £ 20m within the first 12 months, £ 15m in 2021/22 and the last £ 10m in 2022/23, with possibly additional Add-ons are taken into account deal.

And it is precisely this attitude that reinforces why Liverpool never followed their original interest and instead turned attention to Jota.

Just a year older than Sarr, the Portugal international moved to Anfield on an initial £ 41m deal that could climb to £ 46m and has had a brisk start to his career as Reds.

However, in times of financial uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, Liverpool only had to pay £ 4m upfront for the 23-year-old.

While Sarr scored five goals and six assists in the Premier League last year after 28 appearances, Jota managed seven goals and one assist from 34 games, with this total increasing to 16 goals and six assists in all competitions.

In his first season in his first year, he scored nine goals and five assists in the Premier League from 33 games.

Liverpool’s decision was a no-brainer.

The Reds could of course get burned by Sarr again this season if he switched to the Premier League before the deadline on Friday.

With the Wolves more willing to close a deal than Watford, Jota has had a more impressive return on goal and is also available at a fraction of the upfront cost, Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards will not regret their recent signing and the deal he came to Anfield.