Crystal Palace Forwards: Sarr and Mateta's Unfolding Situations

At Crystal Palace right now, the noise around the forwards is almost as loud as the noise from the stands.

Ismaila Sarr has yet to feature under new boss Pierre Sage. Officially, a groin problem keeps him out. Unofficially, there is a feeling that too many bridges have been scorched in the wake of Liverpool’s late interest.

So is he simply sitting tight and praying the January window offers a way out?

Former Palace striker Clinton Morrison, speaking to GOAL on behalf of Freebets.com, admits even he is baffled by how the saga has unfolded.

“I don't know what's going on because I just thought he genuinely did have an injury. And I think the manager has come out and said he's got an injury. He's training individually. He's not ready to train with the squad.”

That is the club line: Sarr is injured, working alone, not yet ready to rejoin the group. Morrison is inclined to accept it.

“I get it. Liverpool come in for you, you want to move. But go about it the right way because eventually you will get the move. That's what I've always said to people.

“And I don't know if he's injured or he's not injured. So at the moment, Palace say he's injured. So I believe what Palace say because I know people there. He's injured. He's training individually. So we'll wait and see.”

The frustration is obvious. So is the warning.

If some fans suspect Sarr is dragging his feet after missing out on Liverpool, Morrison points to others in that dressing room who have ridden out disappointment without drama.

“If people are thinking he's not training because he wanted to get his move - yeah, he's disappointed he didn't get his move. But Marc Guehi, loads of times he didn't get his move. [Eberechi] Eze didn't get his move. Eventually, you'll get your move. Handle the situation differently.”

For Morrison, the key figure in all of this is still the chairman. The door is not locked, but timing matters.

“And I know one thing, the chairman will let you have that move for sure. But because you come in so late with the bid, the chairman can't afford the top goalscorer to leave the football club and leave the club hanging on by a thread to stay in the Premier League. They've got to look after themselves.”

Liverpool’s own transfer work complicates Sarr’s dream even more. They remain keen on Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, having already seen a £65 million offer rejected. They also spent heavily on Bradley Barcola, a £123 million Champions League winner, and brought in Spanish prospect Victor Munoz. Cody Gakpo stayed put, and 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha is being lined up for more minutes.

With that attacking cast assembled, Sarr’s window to Anfield looks narrower by the week.

“So if someone wants to move to Liverpool, he can't just sit there and wait because Liverpool might go, ‘well, we're going to get [Yankuba] Minteh’, who is a younger player. His move to Liverpool might not happen.”

“What he should do is get back fit for Palace, score goals and then prove to people. And then in January, if everything's all right, he might get that move.”

Morrison is clear: stop staring at Anfield, start firing for Palace.

“I know they want a right-sided player. And their number one was Minteh. And Brighton knocked them back. They offered £65 million.

“I know Sarr wants that move there - I get it, it's Liverpool Football Club. Everyone will want to go to Liverpool. But the move's not happened now. And the best thing to do is get your head down, get fit and play a big part in Palace doing well this season.”

While Sarr’s situation rumbles on, another storm is swirling around Selhurst Park’s front line.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, the powerful French striker, has sparked headlines of his own after claiming that a 12‑month extension triggered in his contract is invalid. This, from a player who was close to joining AC Milan in January before a medical issue scuppered the deal.

Morrison, who knows Mateta well, can barely hide his disbelief.

“I don't get that with JP. And I know him really well. So it's a strange one. I feel like he's being badly advised. It’s as simple as that, he's a good person. I've got a lot of time for JP. And I feel like he's getting badly advised.”

Mateta is currently injured, but due back soon. When he returns, Morrison expects the same full-blooded commitment that turned him into a cult hero last season.

“But one thing with JP is he's injured at the moment. He should be back in a week or a couple of weeks. When he's back, he'll give his all for that club. As you saw last season, when there was a lot of noise, he'd be leaving, could have gone to AC Milan. Obviously, it didn't happen with the medical. Came back, scored the goal in the Europa Conference League final.”

Two forwards. Two sagas. One anxious fanbase.

“So obviously, there's two players that Palace fans are probably frustrated with at the moment - Sarr and Mateta. But I still think they are two players that will have a big impact for the club when they come back.”

If Morrison is right, the same players causing the headaches now might yet define Palace’s season when the real pressure bites.