Liverpool have opened a dialogue with Crystal Palace about the possible acquisition of their 28‑year‑old winger, Ismaila Sarr. The Reds, under the stewardship of Andoni Iraola, are actively reviewing their options after negotiations with Brighton over Yankuba Minteh stalled, leaving a clear need for fresh talent on the flanks.
Sarr has emerged as one of the names on Liverpool's shortlist as they aim to bolster their wide‑area options for the upcoming season. At present, Palace are firm in their stance that Sarr is not for sale.
The club has made it clear that the winger, who still has three years remaining on his contract, is a key part of their plans and will not be permitted to leave at this stage. The situation is further complicated by recent reports surrounding Sarr's fitness. He missed Palace's opening‑day defeat to Everton, and rumors initially suggested he was refusing to train.
However, sources now indicate that the real issue is an injury that has kept him out of action. Palace manager Pierre Sage addressed the matter during his Wednesday press conference, acknowledging the difficulty of transfer speculation when a player is injured and under contract.
"I understand that everyone finds it hard to discuss these things when a player is sidelined, but for the moment he remains with us," Sage said. "He is under contract, he is injured, and perhaps the two are linked.
He is an honest professional, and I have spoken to him both this morning and yesterday. Our priority is to get him back on the pitch, and the rest will fall into place for the club." The Liverpool side, meanwhile, have several other transfer targets on their radar. PSG's rising star Bradley Barcola is reportedly the club's primary target, but the Reds are not ruling out the acquisition of more than one winger to provide depth and competition. Another name generating interest is Cody Gakpo, who has attracted attention from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Liverpool have made it clear that they are not prepared to sell the Dutch forward at this time, and should he eventually depart, the club would likely need to bring in two wingers to replace his contribution. The stalled negotiations with Brighton over Minteh add another layer to Liverpool's transfer strategy. Brighton have set a high asking price of £80 million after rejecting two earlier bids from Liverpool.
The most recent offer from the Merseyside club stood at £60 million, a figure that Liverpool are currently unwilling to meet, especially given Minteh's injury concerns. The Brighton forward is expected to be unavailable until at least October, making the potential investment even riskier for the Reds. In summary, Liverpool are actively scouting the market for wide‑area talent, with Ismaila Sarr emerging as a serious candidate despite Palace's firm refusal to sell. The club's broader transfer agenda includes targeting Bradley Barcola and possibly securing additional wingers to ensure squad depth.
At the same time, the ongoing impasse with Brighton over Minteh highlights Liverpool's willingness to walk away from deals that do not meet their valuation or fit their strategic needs. As the summer window progresses, fans can expect further developments on these fronts, with the Reds aiming to assemble a balanced and competitive squad for the challenges ahead.