Manchester United were on the verge of signing Ismaila Sarr from Watford for £40million last summer.
That's according to the Championship club's former technical director Filippo Giraldi, who claims the 23-year-old was 'extremely close' to moving to Old Trafford amid reported interest from arch-rivals Liverpool.
Ultimately, the highly-rated winger remained in London as the Hornets continue their quest for an instant return to the Premier League this season.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News in October, United made an offer of an initial season-long loan with the option to buy at £25million, but Watford were holding out for an outright permanent deal at a much higher fee.
It failed to materialise though, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also missed out on long-term target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, with clubs seemingly hesitant to deal big money as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But just how close did Sarr, who has scored nine goals and laid on as many assists in the Championship this season, come to joining United?
During a guest appearance on the Here We Go podcast, Giraldi - who had a first-hand involvement in the transfer talks between United and Watford - said: "We were extremely close, I was personally negotiating with them.
"We weren't able to reach an agreement. Ismaila is still very young, he will arrive [in the Premier League] for sure.
"He missed probably an opportunity, but I think also for his football to stay here and get 10 goals and 10 assists, he's deciding the league. I think for Watford in the condition they are at the moment it's lucky he stayed.
"I love Ismaila, because he has the ability to affect the game every time he plays, and that's quite rare.
"You see fast wingers becoming more and more important in physical leagues like the Premier League. I remember last year against Manchester United and Liverpool, he was the one with Gerard Deulofeu on the other side affecting the game and deciding the game every time.
"This type of player are players you have to try to maximise and protect them as much as you can."
