Aston Villa agree fee for Watford star as Steven Gerrard closes in on £25m deal

The Villa boss is reportedly closing in on his latest summer signing.
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Aston Villa have moved a step closer to securing their sixth summer addition after they agreed a £25million deal for Watford winger Ismaila Sarr.

The Senegal international has been repeatedly linked with a move back to the Premier League ever since the Hornets suffered relegation at the end of last season.

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The likes of Newcastle United, Everton and Leeds United have all been linked with Sarr during the summer but it’s Villa that have made the first decisive move.

Speaking during pre-season, Hornets manager Rob Edwards discussed potential moves for Sarr and a number of his other key players, saying: “We all understand the situation, and I think there are other clubs in the Championship in a similar situation. Clubs have players who may very quickly get a move away and you have to be ready to react.

“When you’re talking about deals for large amounts of money then the details have to be right for everybody involved. You’ve got both clubs, the player, then there’s agents involved too. That makes it difficult to get big-money moves done.

Sunday afternoon brought multiple reports Villa had agreed a £25million deal just days after speculation arose suggesting Sarr was ‘highly likely’ to leave Vicarage Road before the transfer window closes next month.

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A medical is believed to be taking place over the next 24 hours and Sarr could officially become Steven Gerrard’s sixth signing of the summer once the formalities of the move are completed.

The Villa boss has already completed permanent moves for Diego Carlos, Robin Olsen, Boubacar Kamara and Philippe Coutinho during the season at a cost of around £49million and also took Sevilla left-back Ludwig Augustinsson on a season-long loan deal.

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