Liverpool Bid £50 million For Crystal Palace Winger Ismaila Sarr After Yankuba Minteh Deal Collapses

Liverpool have shifted their focus when it comes to new attacking additions this summer transfer window, as following unsuccessful pursuits of both Ibrahim Mbaye and most recently Yankuba Minteh, it would appear that the Reds have shifted gears and are looking to secure the services of Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr.

Ismaila Sarr Player Profile

The 28 year old has had a very consistent and successful career since he broke onto the scene for Rennes back in 2018. The 76 time capped Senegal international first played Premier League football for Watford, after signing for the side for £25 million in 2019, and was a player who grew in confidence as his debut season went on. 

And following a steady six goal and four assist return, he would spend his second season in the Championship, where he would score 13 goals across all competitions, and begin to display the key attributes that made Watford pay £25 million for him.

Explosive speed, relentless work rate and direct dribbling, these are all the qualities that Sarr began to demonstrate for Watford and for Senegal, but he was doing it in a lower league, and wanted to play top level football, so then he moved back to France.

Sarr made the switch to Marseille in 2023 for just £12.5 million, and he endured an underwhelming season in France, so he would leave the club after just one season and sign for Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Under the management of Oliver Glasner and at a club that was stable in the Premier League, Ismaila Sarr was really able to kick on and show everyone what he was about. 

In his two season so far at Palace, he has played in 92 games across all competitions, and scored 33 goals and registered 8 assists, and he played a key role last season especially in securing Crystal Palace the UEFA Conference League, scoring in both legs of their semi final. 

But, now that he has proven to have what it takes to play at the top level, it would appear that he is ready to move on to a bigger club, and with talks having stalled with Galatasaray, the tricky winger maybe be about to become LFC's latest signing.

What Has Been Reported?

The news was first broke by Fabrizio Romano who has said that Liverpool have opened talsk to sign Ismaila Sarr as their new right winger and the LFC have sent Crystal Palace a proposal worth around £50 million for the forward, who is keen on the move to Anfield. 

Then, journalist Sebastien Denis has reported that Liverpool have initiated concrete talks to recruit Ismaila Sarr this summer, with tallks said to be advanced between the parties, but he believes an offer is yet to be submitted.

Simon Jones, at the Daily Mail, has also reported that while Liverpool have checked on a deal for Ismaila Sarr, a move looks unlikely as it stands as Palace are concerned that they will struggle to find an adequate replacement before the window closes in 6 days time.

Author's Verdict

A move for Ismaila Sarr makes complete sense from a Liverpool perspective. It is clear that the club are trying to recruit a move experienced, Premier League proven options on the right wing, alongside the star signing of Bradley Barcola that looks set to go to the very end of the window.

And given Brighton have effectively priced LFC out of a move for Yankuba Minteh, diverting to Ismaila Sarr seems a logical next step. 

But Liverpool fans will be all to aware of the difficulties with negotiating with Crystal Palace and their chairman Steve Parish, as we learnt last summer with Marc Guehi. So, Liverpool need to identify quickly whether this is a deal that can be done, because if not, then we must move on to other candidates with less than a week left in the window.