First January Signing Crystal Palace rebuff Liverpool approach for Ismaila Sarr

Liverpool have been searched for a right winger and have seen bids rejected for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. Richard H
Crystal Palace have rebuffed an initial approach from Liverpool for Ismaila Sarr.

Liverpool discussed a move for Sarr, 28, as their search for a right-sided winger continues and the Palace attacker was identified as a player of interest until it became clear his current club were not willing to sell.

Following the rejected bids for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh, Liverpool have looked elsewhere to assess other market opportunities.

However, exploratory talks for Sarr were not followed by a bid and sources have told The Athletic that only an astronomical offer would change Palace’s stance and, with other targets still in mind, Liverpool are unlikely to budge.

Why Liverpool struggled against Newcastle

Andoni Iraola’s side are still hoping to do a deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola, who prefers to play on the left flank, having discussed a move all summer.

Minteh has also been on the radar for some time but Brighton continue to hold out for a higher transfer fee after rejecting a second bid of 60 million

Sarr, meanwhile, missed the opening-day defeat by Everton as speculation around his future at Selhurst Park continued. New manager Pierre Sage insisted the Senegal international’s absence was down to an injury.

Sage then told the press on Wednesday that he expects Sarr to remain at Palace. “For the moment, yes,” the Frenchman said. “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.”

Losing Sarr inconceivable for Palace

Analysis by Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam

Palace’s position on Sarr is a logical one. He was their player of the year and top scorer last season; adequately replacing him so late in the window would be extremely difficult and they do not have anyone else with his profile.

Selling him would also mean another important player leaving and another one to come in and adapt to a squad which has a new leader in Sage, causing further upheaval.

His direct running, speed and finishing ability are all crucial to Palace and how they want to play, even under Sage, as it was with predecessor Oliver Glasner.

In attack, he is their main player with individual brilliance and to lose that would present a problem, even if he was replaced. Clearly, there is a price at which he would be allowed to leave, but that will be higher than it otherwise would be because of the time left in the window and how integral he is to Palace.