Manchester United Rumors: Big Turnaround Makes Red Devils Favorite To Sign Liverpool Target

After Liverpool chose to sign Diogo Jota over Watford star Ismaila Sarr, Manchester United's chances of signing the Senegalese winger have now increased, a report said.

Sarr has been eyed by a number of Premier League clubs this offseason, with Liverpool said to be ahead in the race. However, a huge turnaround led to United becoming the new favorites to sign the Watford star before the transfer window ends.

After Watford refused to compromise on Sarr’s fee, Jurgen Klopp’s side quickly shifted its focus to Jota. The interest progressed to the recently completed transfer deal for Jota, which came shortly after Liverpool's signing of Thiago Alcantara.

With Sarr now out of the reigning Premier League champion’s priority list, Watford turned to another English top flight club and offered the 22-year-old to United, a source told 90min.

According to the report, the Reds are now over Sarr and ready to move on. The Red Devils, on the other hand, see the winger as a potential alternative to Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, United’s top target.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is “keeping a keen eye” on Sarr’s situation and is mulling over an offer as the transfer window nears expiration. At this point, a loan deal with United is viewed as a great option for Sarr if Watford will remain firm on its asking price of £40 million ($52 million).

A season-long loan deal would give Watford the option to either cash in on Sarr’s transfer the following year or bring him back to the squad should the club manage to make it to the Premier League, the report said.

Sarr was in fine form playing in Championship, England’s second tier. His arrival at Watford in August last year was a new club record transfer. He appeared three times at the 2018 World Cup for Senegal and played regularly throughout the Lions’ run to the AFCON 2019 final.

His possible addition to United’s young squad could provide more intensity in the club’s attacking department.

As for Jota, Klopp recently praised the Portuguese forward, whom he said has a lot of potential and gives them many options.

"He’s 23 years old, still far away from being kind of a finished article, so much potential," the Liverpool coach said of Jota on the club's official website. "He has the speed, he can combine, can defend, can press. It makes it just more unpredictable and gives us real options for different systems because he can play pretty much all three positions up front in a 4-3-3, if we play with four midfielders he can play both wings."