Manchester United's interest in Watford's Ismaila Sarr last summer failed to materialise into a loan move due to a disagreement over whether there should be an option to buy, according to the player's agent.
United were keen on signing a right-winger in the summer, with Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho their main target, but when it became clear that a move for Sancho wouldn't be feasible, United considered other options, including Sarr.
The 22-year-old joined Watford from Rennes in 2019 and was widely tipped to leave Vicarage Road after just a season at the club following some impressive performances.
Yet no move materialised and Sarr remains with the Hornets in the Championship.
The player's agent, Thierno Seydi, has now claimed that United saw a summer bid turned down due to the fact they did not want to insert an option to buy Sarr into a potential loan deal.
Seydi said: "During the summer, the Manchester club wanted to sign him. At the last moment, they offered a loan without an option, which Watford didn’t accept because the loan was expected to be accompanied by an option with right of first refusal for the Manchester club."
Seydi has also claimed that Sarr was close to joining Liverpool in the January transfer window, but that the Anfield club could not afford Watford's asking price.
He said: "With Liverpool, a few days ago, we were at the stage of signing the contract. Everything was sorted: the monthly wages and the length of the deal. I’d even asked Sadio Mane to find him an apartment.
"But it in the end, they weren’t able to put the €40 million on the table to finalise the deal. You have to say that if English clubs that once animated the transfer window are struggling to put funds together, that shows the depth of the crisis affecting football."
