Is Sarr or King right for Everton

Today we are looking at the forwards Everton might add to their ranks before the domestic transfer window closes. So which of those linked is best for the Blues?

While Everton have had a superbly productive transfer window and have hugely strengthened the first-team and squad, one part of the side they might still consider improving is up front.

Just before deadline day, the Toffees let want-away striker Moise Kean depart on loan for PSG and that leaves the Blues a little light on options up front.

Everton didn’t bring in another forward before the end of the overseas transfer window on Monday, but they still have time to do a deal for a Championship player or a free agent.  

The two Championship players most often considered for a move to Goodison Park are Bournemouth’s Josh King and the young Watford starlet Ismaila Sarr.

Now King and the Cherries have been relegated, the rumours and stories have increased and it does seem likely that he will be leaving the south coast before the domestic window finally shuts.

The Norwegian international has a good track record in the English top flight and so offers plenty of nous and experience.

King is very versatile and can play anywhere up front, on the left, right or through the middle. So in theory he could step up and fill in for several of the Blues players, in particular Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, if either were out for any length of time.

However, he doesn’t offer the same pace, defensive work rate or creativity as Richarlison and would he be able to fully replicate the direct threat of Calvert-Lewin, particularly in the air?

As for Sarr, he’s a young player, still a little raw but regarded as a prospect with a lot of potential to become a very good forward in the next few years.

The Watford player had a breakout campaign in the 2019-20 season, in which he began to attract a lot of attention as he produced a few performances that really caught the eye. That was especially the case after he enjoyed a superb afternoon against Liverpool in February!

And it’s Everton’s neighbours who have been most strongly linked with an interest in him given his similarities to Sadio Mane. However, so far they haven’t made a move for the Senegal player.

Sarr has plenty of pace, is a strong runner, gets in good attacking positions and looks to have an eye for goal too. He is already a fine, effective player with plenty of room still to improve.

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A Squawka analysis of the two players shows they were pretty similar in terms of their overall productivity last season, having almost exactly the same number of games and goals scored.

But King had a better return in goal conversation rate, shot and crossing accuracy.

So he was the more productive and efficient of the two in terms of those sorts of key numbers.

Statistics aren’t everything in football of course and Sarr wasn’t far behind him in these stats.

The Senegal forward is still a very young, developing player so bringing him in is very much an investment for the future as well.

On balance then, ideally I would prefer Sarr. I think he would offer the better long-term investment. He also reminds me of his former team mate Richarlison; a young player still developing but with the potential to become an outstanding footballer.

However, he would command a much more significant fee and I don’t see Everton spending a great deal more at the moment after an expensive window. So King would certainly be the cheaper option and perhaps the more reliable in the immediate short-term.