Alan Hutton: 'Electric' Ismaila Sarr would have been good signing for Aston Villa
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Aston Villa were pursuing a move for Watford winger Ismaila Sarr but the Villans pulled the plug at the last minute and withdrew from the deal.
The Telegraph journalist John Percy reported on 22 August that the deal was going to fall through after the Senegalese international had undergone a medical at Bodymoor.
It was cited that the structure of the deal was the cause of Villa's withdrawal with issues sending both Cameron Archer and Kortney Hause to Vicarage Road on loan also playing their part.
The latter did eventually head to Watford for the season but Archer has remained at Villa Park but former defender Alan Hutton thinks Steven Gerrard has missed out on a game-changing player.
"Obviously, I don't know the ins and outs of the deal but it seemed like something broke down within the deal," Hutton told Villa News. "What that might have been, I don't know.
"I think he could have been a good signing with his pace, which is electric, he gives you something different and even though Leon Bailey is fast himself, Sarr still gives you a different option.
"There was something not quite right and whatever the breakdown was whether it be personal terms or wages or something else, Villa have walked away very quickly and it might be dead in the water now."
Gerrard has now been left with just five days of the transfer window to try and find an alternative target to bolster his attacking department.