Newcastle United are interested in bringing Watford star Ismaila Sarr to St James’ Park this summer, which will surely annoy Ryan Fraser amid his improved form under Eddie Howe.
Fraser has often been disappointing since leaving Bournemouth for the North East at the end of his contract in 2020. But a reunion with his former Cherries boss has given the 28-year-old a new lease of life in black-and-white that never seemed likely with Steve Bruce.
But The Sun now report Sarr is back on the Magpies’ radar ahead of the off-season sales as he seems set to leave Vicarage Road. Even if Roy Hodgson can secure the Hornets another year of Premier League football, the Senegalese dynamo is keen to explore pastures new.
Sarr will have two years left on the £63k-a-week contract agreed upon joining Watford in 2019 for £40m this summer. The fee remains the Hornets’ club-record spend, and The Sun note they will likely want at least £35m to sell their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations champion.
Watford will be loath to let Newcastle snap Sarr up in a discount deal as they hold the 24-year-old in very high regard. The Daily Mail noted in October that the Hornets consider the 39-cap star one of the top talents in the Premier League so rebuffed the Toon’s interest.
The club sought to sound out Sarr’s situation ahead of the winter market after the Saudi Public Investment Fund recognised the five-goal, one-assist dynamo as a firm early target.
Newcastle courting Watford ace Ismaila Sarr will surely annoy Ryan Fraser
Newcastle reviving the club’s interest in raiding Watford for Sarr this summer will surely now annoy Fraser following his revival. The Senegalese sensation remaining at Vicarage Road allowed the Scot a chance to prove himself at St James’, which he has not let slip.
Since the winter market slammed shut, Fraser has been a man reborn on Tyneside with two goals and two assists. His output over the club’s last eight Premier League games, of which he’s started seven, eclipses the zero goals, four assists managed in his previous 34.
Fraser even earned Alan Shearer’s plaudits following his assist against Brentford in a Team of the Week-worthy match last month. Yet even those sorts of performances may see him slip back down Howe’s pecking order next season if PIF and the gaffer seek more forwards.
Shearer noted in his Premier League column after the Bees win: “A constant threat down the left with superb crosses into the box, finding Joelinton for Newcastle’s opening goal.”
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