Ismaïla Sarr to Liverpool: Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Ismaïla Sarr as his Crystal Palace future gets increasingly messy. Turkish journalist Nevzat Dindar, reporting via Forza Cimbom, says the Reds are monitoring the Senegal international, who has reportedly agreed personal terms with Galatasaray. The Turkish club have also tabled a £30 million offer.
Then things turned sour. Sarr reportedly skipped training, prompting new Palace boss Pierre Sage to leave him out of the opening squad of the 2026/27 campaign. With Galatasaray pushing hard, Liverpool’s interest has suddenly thrown another club into an already awkward transfer situation.
Ismaïla Sarr to Liverpool: Why Liverpool are interested in Sarr
On paper, there’s plenty to like. Sarr enjoyed a productive 2025/26 season, scoring nine Premier League goals in 28 appearances while playing a major role in Palace’s historic UEFA Conference League triumph. He then carried that form onto the international stage, scoring four times as Senegal reached the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
Andoni Iraola, appointed by Liverpool in June, wants speed and aggression in transition. That’s where Sarr can be frightening. At 1.85m, with explosive acceleration and the ability to attack space behind a defensive line, he suits a side that wants to turn pressure into chances in seconds. Liverpool could isolate him in two-v-two situations, get him running at retreating defenders and let the winger do what he does best.
There is a problem, a fairly large one.
The tactical problem Iraola would have
Iraola’s football demands work without the ball. Wingers can’t simply wait for the turnover; they have to press, recover their shape and help protect the full-back behind them.
Sarr’s numbers raise questions here. He ranks in the 14th percentile for defensive actions and the sixth percentile for total touches, according to the data provided. That’s a passive profile.
Liverpool’s right-back could end up carrying too much of the defensive burden if Sarr switches off. Against weaker opponents, perhaps that’s manageable. Against a side capable of pinning Liverpool back, it could become a glaring weakness.
Read: £115m bid made and personal terms agreed
As a late-game weapon, though? Different story. With tired defenders facing a player who can hit top speed almost instantly, Sarr could be devastating. Liverpool would be paying for a specialist rather than a complete starter, and with Galatasaray already deep into negotiations, that might not be enough to justify £30 million.
