Crystal Palace have rebuffed Liverpool’s initial approach for Ismaila Sarr.
Reports emerged of interest from Liverpool after they were forced to walk away from a potential deal to sign Yankuba Minteh from Brighton Hove Albion. However, according to David Ornstein from The Athletic, Crystal Palace are desperate to retain their Player of the Season and will demand a massive fee to even consider a deal.
The two clubs held exploratory talks about a potential deal but these were not followed up with a bid. Liverpool look unlikely to give in to the Eagles’ demands, so will likely turn their attention to alternative targets.
The Reds are long-time admirers of the Senegalese winger, not least because of his canny knack of scoring against them whereby he scored seven goals against the Reds, but they also placed him on a three-man shortlist in the summer of 2020 alongside Jonathan David and Diogo Jota.
Sarr himself is said to be interested in the move, but Palace remain vigilant in their desire to keep their player of the season from last term.
Speculation surrounding the 28-year-old uncertain future remains uncertain after he missed his side’s opening-day 2-0 defeat against Everton. New manager Pierre Sage was quizzed during his pre match press conference ahead of the fixture vs Manchester City on the player future, he insisted that he expects Sarr to remain with the club.
“For the moment, yes,” he told the press after the 2-0 defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. “When you have three years on your contract, it’s not easy to leave.
“I understand for everyone if you have this kind of contact it’s difficult because you hesitate a lot but for the moment he is with us, he is under contract.
“He is injured and maybe you can make a link between injury and the situation but for me he is honest. I spoke with him this morning and yesterday about that with him but we just want him on the pitch and all the rest is for other people.”
Palace’s position is understandable given the number of high-profile players linked with moves away from South London. Jean-Philippe Mateta looks set to depart after attempting to void the final ten months of his contract, while Daniel Muñoz has also been linked with Everton this summer.
As for Liverpool, their quest for a winger in this window continues for Liverpool, as they are yet to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah’s departure this summer. Thus far, only Victor Munoz has joined the club for £34.5 million, so the club requires one, if not two, more wingers before the transfer window closes next week.
They have been in hot pursuit of PSG winger Bradley Barcola in a saga that has rumbled on throughout the summer. Talks between the two clubs have progressed over the last week, but yet another winger remains at the forefront of Liverpool and Iraola’s plans.
Sarr’s finishing ability would have made him a capable replacement for Salah down the right-hand side, and despite Sarr’s interest in the move, the chance of a deal being struck between the two clubs looks unlikely.
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