Liverpool want to sell three first team stars to fund move for Watford ace
Liverpool aren’t resting on the laurels of their Premier League title. They want to add Ismaila Sarr to their fullback options ahead of next season.
No Premier League club relies more on their fullbacks to pressure the opponent more than Liverpool. As a result, it’s no surprise that Jurgen Klopp is anxious to add another talented option to his side’s ranks ahead of next season.
The object of the fiery manager’s most recent affections is Watford star Ismaila Sarr. The Hornets are in no mood to give the 22-year-old star despite being relegated to the Championship. According to The Evening Standard, Watford are only willing to let him move to Anfield if the Reds pay £40 million for his services.
Liverpool, like every other club in Europe, have seen their finances negatively impacted by the global pandemic. They aren’t in a position to spend that kind of money on a player who would likely be a backup for them next season. Instead, the higher-ups at Liverpool know they need to offload some first-team players to fund a potential swoop for Sarr.
How can Liverpool afford Ismaila Sarr?
Three players stand out as potential exits. Xherdan Shaqiri is arguably the biggest name star that will leave Anfield this summer. He barely had any impact for Klopp last season despite his squad’s magical run to a league title. He may need to take a step back in terms of league quality if he wants to revive his career.
The other two players set to be moved on by Klopp could be much more interesting buys for European teams looking to scoop up undervalued assets. Harry Wilson isn’t good enough to displace any of Klopp’s star-studded attackers, but he showed signs of real quality on loan for Bournemouth last season.
Mark Grujic may not have quite as high of a ceiling, but he was a fixture for Hertha BSC last season in the Bundesliga. The German club may have strong interest in retaining the midfielder who made 29 starts for them a season ago.
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Liverpool hope they can raise up to £50 million by selling the trio, but they may struggle to hit that figure in the current transfer market. Netting the £40 million required to purchase Sarr might be a more attainable goal. No matter what, look for Klopp to find a way to bring Sarr into the mix if he’s truly convinced he’s good enough to impact the club’s first team next season.