Who is the Nicolas Pepe alternative Arsenal are targeting?

Ismaila Sarr is once more being linked with a Premier League switch, so we look at the Senegalese’s style of play and how he’d fit in in England. 

Who is he? 

Previously courted by Barcelona, Ismaila Sarr opted to instead move to Rennes in 2017 as he sought regular game time in a bid to realise his full potential. After losing Ousmane Dembele to Borussia Dortmund in 2016, signing a pacey winger was key and Rennes replaced the Frenchman 12 months after his exit, securing Sarr’s services from Metz. 

The youngster may have struggled to really nail down a regular starting spot for the Ligue 1 outfit upon his arrival, making 22 starts, but this season he has featured prominently, starting 18 of 19 league matches and scoring five goals and registering three assists for seventh-placed Rennes. Despite his age, the 20-year-old already has in excess of 20 senior caps to his name for Senegal and started all three group games at the World Cup. 

Who is interested and why? 

According to Le10Sport, Arsenal have told Rennes they want to sign Sarr as they aim to add another wide forward to the squad. The Gunners, though, will have to wait until the summer to sign the young winger as Unai Emery has been informed that the only additions he can make to the squad will be on loan. 

Emery is eager to secure a new wide forward following Danny Welbeck’s season-ending ankle injury last year and it has seen them linked with the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Hirving Lozano. Sarr, by comparison, would be a cheaper alternative, with it believed that he would cost as little as £20m. Chipping in with an average of two successful dribbles per 90, his quality with the ball at his feet would be a huge asset for the Gunners. 

Conversely, his end product needs work as a return of 0.8 key passes per 90 in France’s top tier this term suggests, but at his age, it’s an area that can be improved. With such a high ceiling and a willingness to improve,Sarr could be the ideal wing addition to the Arsenal squad and would afford Emery greater tactical flexibility, with the Senegal star able to play any number of positions in the final third. 

Key stat 

Sarr’s style of play means he’ll often be subjected to some rough house treatment in France. Indeed, he’s been fouled more times (61) than any other player in Ligue 1 this season as his approach helps draw fouls that benefit Rennes. They rank highly for set-piece goals scored (6) in France this term and it’s seen Sarr develop a statistically calculated WhoScored style of play of ‘gets fouled often’.