Liverpool have opened discussions with Crystal Palace about the possible acquisition of winger Ismaila Sarr, adding another name to their summer shopping list as they seek to bolster their attacking options on the flanks. The Merseyside club, managed by Andoni Iraola, is currently reassessing its transfer strategy after negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion for the talented Yankuba Minteh reached an impasse.
With the Minteh deal stalled, Liverpool have turned their attention to other prospects who can provide pace, width and creativity, and Sarr has emerged as a prime candidate. Sarr, who is 28 years old, is one of several players that Liverpool are evaluating as they aim to reinforce their wide areas.
The French‑Algerian international has impressed with his ability to take on defenders, deliver accurate crosses and contribute goals from the wing. However, Crystal Palace have made it clear that they are not prepared to part with him at this stage. The club has publicly stated that the winger is "not for sale" and has three years remaining on his current contract, which gives them considerable leverage in any potential deal. The situation is further complicated by recent reports concerning Sarr's fitness.
He missed Palace's opening‑weekend loss to Everton, and rumors circulated that he was refusing to train. In reality, the player is dealing with an injury that has kept him out of action, a factor that Palace's manager Pierre Sage highlighted during a press conference on Wednesday. Sage explained, "He is under contract, he is injured, and maybe you can link his injury and the situation.
I understand for everybody that to have this kind of contact is difficult because you hesitate a lot, but for the moment he is with us." He added that Sarr is an honest professional and that the club's priority is to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible. Liverpool's interest in Sarr comes at a time when the club is juggling multiple transfer targets. Paris Saint‑Germain's Bradley Barcola has been identified as Liverpool's primary objective on the wing, but the Anfield side is not ruling out the acquisition of more than one wide player. The potential signing of Sarr would give them depth and competition for places, especially if Barcola were to join the squad.
Another name linked with Liverpool is Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, who has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. At present, Liverpool have indicated that they are not willing to sell Gakpo, and if a departure were to occur, the club would likely need to bring in two wingers to replace his contributions both in terms of goals and work rate.
The stalled negotiations with Brighton over Yankuba Minteh further underline Liverpool's urgency to secure alternative options. Brighton have set a high price tag of £80 million for the Ghanaian forward, rejecting two earlier offers from Liverpool. The most recent bid from Andoni Iraola's side was £60 million, a figure that Brighton deemed insufficient.
Adding to the complexity, Minteh is currently nursing an injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until October, making the prospect of a large investment riskier for the Reds. In summary, Liverpool are actively exploring several avenues to strengthen their wide positions.
While their primary focus remains on securing Barcola, the club is prepared to engage in talks with Palace for Sarr if a mutually agreeable deal can be reached. Palace, however, are firm in their stance that Sarr is not for sale, especially given his contractual situation and recent injury concerns.
Meanwhile, the club must also navigate the high‑price demand from Brighton for Minteh and the potential interest in Gakpo from other Premier League giants. All these factors combine to create a dynamic and fluid transfer window for Liverpool, with the final squad composition likely to be shaped by a combination of strategic purchases, contract negotiations and the resolution of ongoing injury issues.