Everton’s January transfer target in Watford winger Ismaïla Sarr was “the kind of player they needed” at Goodison Park, journalist Paul Brown has told GiveMeSport.

The Toffees were unable to make any additions to Sean Dyche’s squad during the winter window.

Everton transfer news – Ismaïla Sarr

According to reports, Everton had a late transfer bid rejected by Watford for the services of Sarr as the Toffees desperately scrambled to replace Anthony Gordon, who was sold to Newcastle United for £45m last week.

The Blues were willing to pay £2m to take the 24-year-old on loan until the end of the season, with an obligation buy clause worth £30m inserted into the deal.

However, a move never got over the line with transfer insider Dean Jones telling GiveMeSport that a work permit issue prevented a deal from being sealed between the two clubs.

And Brown has suggested that Sarr would’ve been a useful addition for Dyche’s side and could have helped improve the faltering form of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

What has Brown said about Everton and Sarr?

Brown told GiveMeSport: “I think Ismaïla Sarr is the kind of player they needed. There's been a lot of talk that Everton need more firepower and a striker who can play when Calvert-Lewin is not entirely fit or unavailable for whatever reason.

“I genuinely think that the bigger problem at Everton is that they don't have a lot of creativity for whoever plays up front. I think you would see a big turnaround in Calvert-Lewin's form if they'd been able to sign a genuinely productive winger who can beat a man, cross a ball and be a goal threat himself. I think that is what they are lacking. Ismaïla Sarr ticks a lot of those boxes and would have been a great signing.”

Would Sarr have been a good addition for Everton?

Sarr would likely have been an improvement on Everton’s current wide options, with the Saint-Louis-born star having impressed during previous spells in the Premier League with the Hornets.

The 50-cap Senegal international is enjoying a solid season in the Championship, hitting the back of the net eight times whilst providing four assists in 25 appearances, suggesting that a step-up to an established top-flight club could be on the cards during the summer.

And an average WhoScored rating of 6.96 for his displays in the second tier rank the wide man as Watford’s second-best-performing player who has played over 1000 minutes this campaign, indicating how important he is to the Vicarage Road outfit.

Therefore, it seems a fair assumption that Sarr’s signing would have provided Dyche with a genuine improvement to the squad he has inherited this week, as he looks to keep the Merseyside outfit in the Premier League.

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