Liverpool's Pursuit of Ismaïla Sarr Blocked by Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s search for a right-winger has hit another wall, with Crystal Palace shutting the door on an approach for Ismaïla Sarr as the transfer window ticks towards its close.

Reports claimed the Reds had gone in with a bid of around €58.4 million for the Palace winger, with Fabrizio Romano stating an offer had been tabled. The Athletic painted a different picture, insisting no formal bid was lodged. What is clear is that Liverpool made contact over Sarr’s availability – and received a firm message in return: he is not for sale.

Palace’s stance is not new. Galatasaray have already tested their resolve twice this summer and failed, seeing two offers rejected and now looking unlikely to return with a third. The Turkish side have backed away; Palace have held their line.

A Complicated Summer on the Right

Liverpool’s recruitment team have spent the summer trying to piece together life after Mohamed Salah, or at least prepare for it. The right flank has become the club’s most sensitive position, and the shortlist has been long.

Yankuba Minteh was a serious target, but that trail went cold fast. Brighton’s valuation, believed to be around €90 million, forced Liverpool to walk away. The numbers were simply too steep, even for a club used to operating near the top of the market.

So attention swung to Sarr.

At 28, he offers something different to the younger, developmental profiles Liverpool have often chased. He is seasoned, battle-hardened in the Premier League with 116 appearances, and he has just come off a standout campaign as Palace lifted the Europa Conference League. Twenty-one goals in that run underlined his growing status and made it almost inevitable that bigger clubs would circle.

They did. Palace didn’t blink.

Palace Stand Firm as Liverpool Weigh Options

For Liverpool, the refusal is another twist in a window that has offered more frustration than clarity on the right wing. They have already explored Minteh and held extensive discussions over PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye. Sarr became the latest name to move to the forefront, only for Palace to slam the brakes on any potential deal.

The Merseyside club are not limiting themselves to one flank. Talks are also ongoing over Bradley Barcola from PSG, a French international whose preferred role is on the left. That pursuit hints at a broader reshaping of Liverpool’s forward line rather than a simple like-for-like Salah replacement.

For now, though, the picture on the right remains the same: Salah is still there, the clock is still ticking, and Ismaïla Sarr is staying at Crystal Palace.