Liverpool Pursue Ismaila Sarr Amidst Transfer Market Frustrations
Liverpool refuse to walk away from Ismaila Sarr and are preparing a fresh offer for the Crystal Palace winger, as another wide target slips through their fingers and heads for Aston Villa instead.
Liverpool double down on Sarr chase
Sarr has moved to the top of Liverpool’s winger shortlist. The club have already tested Palace’s resolve with a sizeable bid and are ready to go back in again.
On August 26, The Mirror revealed that Liverpool had tabled a £50million offer for the Senegal international. The same report stated that Sarr is keen on a switch to Anfield before the transfer window shuts next week.
Palace’s response was firm. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that the London club rejected Liverpool’s proposal and that their plan is to keep the 28-year-old, who has become a central figure at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool, though, are not backing off.
Sky Sport Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported on X at 3:04pm on August 28 that Liverpool are “making another push” for Sarr and are “preparing to submit a new proposal” to Palace. The race is not one-on-one either: Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad are said to be closely monitoring the situation and ready to pounce if talks between Liverpool and Palace collapse.
The pressure around Sarr is building. Liverpool need a winger. Palace want to hold their ground. And Al Ittihad are lurking.
Minteh and Mbaye: moves that got away
Liverpool’s renewed focus on Sarr comes after frustration elsewhere in the market.
Before turning fully to the Palace star, the club went hard for Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh. Brighton set their price at around £70m. Liverpool lodged two bids, both short of that valuation, and made no breakthrough. The deal stalled. Attention shifted.
Another option had already slipped away.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye was explored as a serious target earlier in the window. PSG’s stance was clear: £60m or nothing. Liverpool, unwilling to go that high for the 18-year-old, backed away.
Now Mbaye is heading to the Premier League anyway – just not to Merseyside.
At 4:10pm on August 28, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with PSG to sign Mbaye. The fee is set at €55m, with the relationship between PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris described as key to getting the move over the line.
So Liverpool watch one winger move to Villa, another remain locked behind Brighton’s price tag, and a third — Sarr — sits at the centre of an increasingly tense stand-off.
With the window ticking down and rivals acting decisively, how far are Fenway Sports Group prepared to go to finally land their man?
