Liverpool Pursue Ismaila Sarr as Transfer Deadline Approaches

Liverpool refuse to walk away from Ismaila Sarr and are readying a fresh offer for the Crystal Palace winger, as another wide target slips through their fingers and heads to Aston Villa.

Liverpool circle back for Sarr

Fenway Sports Group’s search for a new winger has already taken a few sharp turns this summer, and Sarr now sits firmly at the top of Liverpool’s list.

Liverpool have already tested Palace’s resolve. On August 26, The Mirror reported that the Anfield club put £50 million on the table for the 28-year-old Senegal international. The same report stated that Sarr is keen on making the move to Merseyside before the window shuts next week.

Palace’s response was blunt. Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed that the London club rejected the bid and that their plan is to keep Sarr, who has become a key figure at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool are not backing down.

At 3:04pm on August 28, Sky Sport Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri posted on X that Liverpool are “making another push for Ismaila Sarr” and are “preparing to submit a new proposal” to Crystal Palace. The message came with a warning: Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad are closely tracking the situation and could move if Liverpool’s pursuit stalls.

So the race is live. Palace holding firm, Liverpool pushing again, and Al Ittihad lurking in the background as the deadline creeps closer.

Missed targets and a Villa blow

Sarr is not the first winger Liverpool have tried to prise away this summer.

Before turning to the Palace man, Liverpool made a play for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh. Brighton set their price at around £70 million. Liverpool sent in two offers, both short of that valuation, and got nowhere.

The same pattern emerged with another target. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye was explored as an option, but PSG’s £60 million valuation forced Liverpool to step back and look elsewhere.

Now Mbaye is heading to the Premier League anyway – just not to Anfield.

At 4:10pm on August 28, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on X that Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with PSG to sign the 18-year-old winger. The fee is expected to be around €55 million, with the relationship between PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris described as key to getting the deal over the line.

While Villa close in on Mbaye, Liverpool are doubling down on Sarr. With the window ticking away and rivals strengthening out wide, the next bid to Crystal Palace will say a lot about how badly Anfield wants – and needs – their new winger.