---
title: "Leeds: Whites receive major Ismaila Sarr transfer encouragement"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-transfer-news-ismaila-sarr-aston-villa-jesse-marsch/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-08-22T10:35:46Z"
modified: "2022-08-22T10:35:46Z"
---

# Leeds: Whites receive major Ismaila Sarr transfer encouragement

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) have been given fresh hope in their pursuit of Ismaila Sarr after Aston Villa’s move for the Watford winger collapsed.**

### The lowdown

Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekhol [named the 24-year-old](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-sky-sports-ismaila-sarr-claim/) as a potential attacking target for Leeds earlier this month, while French journalist Santi Aouna [reported last Tuesday](https://twitter.com/santi_j_fm/status/1559541556402585601?s=21&t=ulaayZA9BdGR-cSBC9oJDg) that the Whites are ‘strongly interested’ in the Senegal attacker.

He said that Jesse Marsch’s side have ‘almost’ reached an agreement on personal terms, but need a ‘departure’ to go through before they can make a move.

Alas, Sarr seemed poised to join Villa instead after the Midlands outfit agreed a [£25m deal](https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/12678077/ismaila-sarr-aston-villa-agree-deal-with-watford-to-sign-winger) with Watford.

### The latest

However, it now looks as though Sarr is back on the market, with [Sky Sports News](https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1561633834365554688?s=21&t=dRudKPheI-uYE1EV80P9jQ) reporting that Villa’s proposed move is ‘off’ as they ‘have pulled out of the negotiations’ on the day that the player was due to undergo a medical.

On top of that, ‘Sky Sports News has been told’ that Villa manager Steven Gerrard had ‘reservations’ about the deal and ‘decided to walk away’.

They called it ‘big news’, and it may well revive the battle for the 24-year-old’s signature.

[![Latest Leeds United news](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-50/)

### The verdict

It looks like Leeds could sign Sarr after all, but they must now be wary of competition from Crystal Palace.

Indeed, [The London Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news-live-arsenal-chelsea-fc-tottenham-pedro-neto-tielemans-antony-b1020015.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1661155414:~:text=Hope%20yet%20for%20rivals%20suitors%20Crystal%20Palace%3F) have already suggested that Villa’s decision to back out of a move offers the Eagles ‘hope’ of pulling off a deal themselves.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

Across his two seasons in the Premier League, Sarr has scored [10 goals](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/322670/History/Isma%C3%AFla-Sarr), set up another [six](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/322670/History/Isma%C3%AFla-Sarr) , created [46](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/322670/History/Isma%C3%AFla-Sarr) chances and recorded [167](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/322670/History/Isma%C3%AFla-Sarr) total dribbles. He truly is a dynamic wide threat.

His former Watford team-mate [Ben Foster](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=551108073096366) has marvelled at the forward’s acceleration and described the 24-year-old as a ‘game-winner’, so hopefully those are qualities that Leeds can utilise by bringing him to Elland Road and pouncing upon Aston Villa’s U-turn.