Manchester United were not far away from signing Watford winger Ismaila Sarr last summer, according to the Hornets’ former technical director Filippo Giraldi.

The Senegalese international was linked with both the Red Devils and Liverpool, but Giraldi claims that a move to Old Trafford could well have happened:

“We were extremely close, I was personally negotiating with them. We weren’t able to reach an agreement. And I think Ismaila is very young, he will arrive for sure.”

United were also looking at Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho at the time but the England international’s €120m valuation seems to have forced the Red Devils into looking at other options.

Sarr was said to be available for around the £40m mark so it is unlikely that the cost of the transfer put off United from making the deal. Whether there were other complications, it is not known, as Giraldi doesn’t go into further detail.

The winger’s performances for Watford this campaign have been solid, if not spectacular, having scored nine goals and provided nine assists in 34 appearances, so it remains to be seen whether United will consider going back in for him sometime in the future.