Manchester United Rumors: Watford Winger Could Be 'Viable Option' As Sancho Alternative, Insider Says

As the transfer window nears deadline, Manchester United could have a few more options if the club doesn't succeed in signing top target Jadon Sancho, according to a transfer insider.

Sky Sports News reporter and transfer insider Dharmesh Sheth said on the Friday episode of “The Transfer Show” that United signing Sancho before Oct. 5 seems unlikely. But one player who could be a “real and viable option” for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side is Watford star Ismaila Sarr.

“If Manchester United don't sign Sancho, as seems likely now then the ideal scenario would be to bring in a replacement on loan until the end of the season,” Sheth said. “[Ousmane] Dembele has been mentioned but Sarr at Watford is a very real and viable option.”

Sheth suggested that with the domestic transfer deadline still over a week away, United could have time to come up with an offer. But the correspondent added that Watford is currently not interested in loaning its star forward. International Business Times could not independently verify the information.

“United won't have to do that deal by October 5 due to the domestic deadline that runs until October 16,” he continued. “Watford are open to selling but they want in the region of £50 million ($65 million) for Sarr. They're not likely to entertain a loan.”

As for Sarr, he earlier said his future depends on both him and Watford but suggested that he is likely to stay.

“I still have years left on my contract with Watford; another four years,” Sarr told Senegalese outlet San Limites in August. “If Watford want me to stay, I’ll play in the Championship. A departure depends on them as well as me. This is normal.”

Sky Sports earlier reported that Sarr was on United's list of targets, along with free agent Edinson Cavani, Barcelona's Ousmane Dembélé and Real Madrid's Luka Jović.

On Saturday, The Guardian's Andy Martin and Fabrizio Romano reported that Cavani is now on his way to England to complete his move to United. The former Paris Saint-Germain star is expected to sign a one-year deal, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.

Meanwhile, one club that had also shown interest in Sarr was Liverpool, which pursued him this summer. But it was earlier reported that after Watford refused to compromise on Sarr’s fee, Jurgen Klopp’s side quickly shifted its focus on Diogo Jota, the former Wolves goal scorer who became Liverpool’s third major signing after Thiago Alcantara and Kostas Tsimikas.

On the Sept. 23 episode of “Blood Red: The Liverpool FC” podcast, Liverpool ECHO correspondent Paul Gorst, who covers the Reds for the outlet, said that the club is already over Sarr after securing Jota.

“He [Sarr] was on a three-man shortlist and the fact that they [Liverpool] have got [Diogo] Jota means they are likely to cool interest in Sarr,” Gorst said. “It will be interesting to see where his next move is because he is too good to stay in the Championship.”