Watford have spent big money on players in the past, including expensive deals for the likes of Andre Gray, Isaac Success and Gerard Deulofeu.
Some of these players have lived up to expectations, such as Odion Ighalo or Richarlison, while others have disappointed.
Watford’s record signing is Ismaila Sarr, who currently plies his trade with Crystal Palace.
While some of their record signings have proven value for money, others haven’t, and it is a topic that supporters will regularly debate, especially after a transfer window comes to a close.
Sarr in particular will generate a lot of debate due to him being the club’s record signing, and he was even a prominent figure last summer as he made the switch from Marseille to Palace just 12 months after his departure from Vicarage Road.
Ismaila Sarr transfer claim
When asked whether the club’s record transfer signing proved value for money, FLW’s Watford fan pundit Justin Beattie suggested that Ismaila Sarr didn’t live up to expectations.
While he has admitted that the forward had plenty of standout performances, he has claimed that a lack of consistency proved a key issue during his time at Vicarage Road.
“Ismaila Sarr, he came with a lot of promise, but he was more of a player of moments rather than a star player,” Beattie told Football League World.
“We’ll always remember his performances against Liverpool and Man United, and the goal that he scored away at West Brom from the halfway line.
“But we’ll also remember that he didn’t really live up to the player that we all hoped he would be.
FLW’s Watford fan pundit suggests that free-agent Jack Cork would be a sensible pickup for the Hornets.
“Most opposition fans would always ask us about him, and point out that he was probably our best player.
“But if you watched him week-in and week-out, rather than just on highlights packages or on match of the day where he took Liverpool apart, you’d know that he didn’t do that all the time, he only did it occasionally.
“Was he value for money? Probably not.
“He’s now playing for Crystal Palace, so he’s still knocking around in the Premier League, and good luck to him.
“But he probably won’t be remembered as a Watford legend.”
Ismaila Sarr’s impact at Watford
| Ismaila Sarr – Watford league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 28 (22) | 5 (4) | ||
| 2020-21 | 39 | 13 (4) | ||
| 2021-22 | 22 (21) | 5 (2) | ||
| 2022-23 | 39 (36) | 10 (6) | ||
According to The Athletic, Sarr signed for the Hornets in a deal worth a reported £28.8 million.
He arrived in 2019 from Rennes, and went on to feature 128 times in the league across four campaigns.
He contributed 33 goals and 16 assists, and helped the team gain promotion to the Premier League in 2021 when the team came second in the Championship table.
Sarr departed Watford in the summer of 2023, signing for Marseille, before joining Palace earlier this year.
Sarr’s stint at Watford didn’t quite live up to £28.8 million price tag
Sarr delivered a lot of great moments during his time at Watford, but a fee of £28.8 million comes with a greater expectation than that.
The 26-year-old undeniably has a lot of talent, but his time with the Hornets saw him struggle to leave a mark on games consistently.
A return of just 10 top flight goals from 50 appearances was underwhelming, and it contributed to their relegation in both campaigns he played for the club in the Premier League.
The next time Watford look to spend that kind of money on a player, they will be hoping that they can deliver top performances on a more consistent basis.
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