Ismaila Sarr was linked with a move to Arsenal last summer.
Arsenal were not the only club to show an interest in him, however, with a number of other Premier League clubs keen to sign him.
Sarr remained at Watford though, despite their relegation to the Championship, mainly due to the £35million price tag that the Hornets put on his head.
He is a player of immense talent who is still learning the game. That Watford paid so much for him at such a young age is evidence enough of his raw talent.
For Arsenal, he would have brought a directness in attack that few wide players in the division can match. Not even Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is as adept at carrying the ball forward and driving towards the opposition box at such terrifying speed as Sarr.
He is difficult to stop when running at pace, as Liverpool found to their detriment. And when he finds a level of consistency, which will surely come with time, there is no reason why he cannot be one of the most dangerous wingers in the division.
Sarr impressed despite Watford's relegation and has gone on to shine for the Hornets in the second tier this season, notching five goals in 25 appearances for the club.
And his form encouraged more interest in him during the January transfer window, but not from Arsenal, from Liverpool.
According to his agent "everything was done" for the forward to join the Reds, but a deal could not be completed, once again because of the price tag.
Speaking to PanAfricanFootball.com, agent Thierno Seyd said: "With Liverpool, a few days ago, we were at the stage of signing the contract to bind the Reds to Ismaîla Sarr.
"Everything was set, the monthly salary and the length of the lease. I even asked Sadio Mané to find him an apartment. But in the end, the English club could not put €40million on the table to finalise this case.
"That is to say, if the English clubs are having difficulty raising funds, this reflects the depth of the crisis affecting football."
