Everton chase last-gasp loan-to-buy deal for Ismaila Sarr amid Nottingham Forest competition
Everton are trying to land a late-window deal to sign Marseille attacker Ismaila Sarr, according to Football Transfers.
The outlet reported via their website on 30 January that the Toffees want to sign the Senegal international on a loan-to-buy deal but face competition from both Nottingham Forest and Villarreal.
The 25-year-old is available on a permanent deal for £13million but Everton don’t have money to spend, and despite following him closely are now under threat as rivals have made “significant strides”.
There is now a feeling that both Forest and Villarreal have “stolen a march” on Everton in their pursuit of the versatile attacker.
Complicated, as usual
If Marseille are hoping for a permanent deal then that surely knocks the Toffees out of the race since their financial restrictions are well known.
Forest have also been referred by the Premier League for a profit and sustainability breach, so what they could stump up remains to be seen.
And if Sarr were to arrive at Goodison Park he would surely be intended to replace current loanee Arnaut Danjuma, since the club can only have two temporary signings at one time and Jack Harrison doesn’t look to be going anywhere.
The Dutchman is on loan from Villarreal meaning Sarr would presumably also be something of a replacement at the Spanish club if he ends up there.
Danjuma has been chased by Lyon throughout the window, and interest has now emerged in the Eredivisie, but Everton might be struggling for cooperation in La Liga if they are going up against his parent club to sign the next man in.
Sarr scored 33 league goals for Watford between the Championship and Premier League before his move to Ligue 1 in the summer, but he has fallen out of favour in the squad and hasn’t featured in the past three league games.
In other Everton news, a Premier League club is pushing to close a deal to sign a Toffees star before the deadline.
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