When Ismaila Sarr joined Watford in 2019, it was a declaration of purpose.
Watford’s pledge to pay Rennes £28.8 million (now $37 million) plus add-ons set a club record in the summer following their FA Cup final appearance and Premier League 11th place finish.
But rather than being a significant turning point for owner Gino Pozzo and the Watford administration, it turned out to be more of a weight around the neck at times.
Watford experimented with possibilities to cash in or minimize their losses on an asset that eventually cost the club more than £40 million in transfer fees, add-ons, and wages throughout almost every transfer window during his tenure at Vicarage Road.