Liverpool Pursues Ismaila Sarr as Mohamed Salah Successor

Liverpool have stepped up their search for a Mohamed Salah successor by submitting a £50m proposal to Crystal Palace for Ismaila Sarr, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The move marks the latest twist in a restless summer at Anfield, where the recruitment team have been scrambling to rebuild the right flank after Salah’s surprise switch to Trabzonspor.

From Diomande to Barcola – and a stalled Minteh chase

Liverpool’s winger hunt has already taken a few sharp turns.

Yan Diomande was identified early as the priority target, with a bid lodged, but the Ivorian made it clear he preferred other destinations and eventually signed for Real Madrid. That forced Liverpool to recalibrate.

Bradley Barcola then surged to the top of their list. The Frenchman operates primarily from the left, yet Liverpool have continued to push for him while scouring the market for a right-sided option to mirror Salah’s profile.

Yankuba Minteh briefly looked like that answer. Two bids went in this month. Both were rejected. Brighton then set their price at £80m – a figure that instantly cooled Liverpool’s interest.

Journalist Ben Jacobs reported that Liverpool viewed their previous £60m offer as competitive, but Brighton knocked it back and informed the club they would not move below £80m. Liverpool, he added, are not expected to return unless that valuation drops significantly.

The pressure finally told. The Minteh pursuit has been shelved.

Romano: Minteh talks ‘gone cold’ as Sarr bid lands

Romano confirmed that Liverpool had effectively walked away from Minteh, saying negotiations had “gone cold” over the last 24 hours. Barcola, he stressed, remains Liverpool’s “first priority” as their main winger signing.

But Liverpool also want a second wide option.

That is where Sarr comes in.

Romano revealed that Liverpool have now opened talks with Crystal Palace and sent a proposal worth around £50m for the Senegal international. Sarr, he reported, is keen on the move.

Palace, though, are under no pressure to sell and have already turned down two offers from Galatasaray for the 26-year-old. Those bids triggered the first public signs of tension around Sarr’s future.

Sarr pushing to leave as Palace hold firm

Last week, Romano reported that Sarr had agreed personal terms with Galatasaray and was actively pushing to leave Selhurst Park. With no agreement between the clubs, Palace left him out of the squad at the weekend as the situation rumbled on.

That absence raised alarms among Palace supporters, especially after head coach Pierre Sage had said only days earlier that Sarr would play.

Sage moved to clarify the situation after Palace’s 2-0 defeat to Everton.

“It’s normal (the panic from fans) because two days ago, I said he will play,” Sage explained. “Yesterday, we made a medical point with the doctor of the club, the player and me.

“We have chosen that he cannot play because for the moment he’s not really 100%. That’s why we didn’t want to take a risk.”

Palace insist the decision was medical. Sarr, by contrast, is understood to be intent on a move, with Galatasaray already in place on personal terms and Liverpool now on the scene with Premier League money and a Champions League platform.

Liverpool’s winger puzzle

For Liverpool, the equation is blunt.

Salah is gone. Victor Munoz has arrived from Osasuna as the first new wide option, Barcola remains the marquee target on the left, and the club still need a reliable threat from the right.

Minteh is too expensive. Diomande is in Madrid. Barcola would fill one side. Sarr, at £50m, could complete the picture.

Palace have shown they are prepared to resist. Liverpool have shown they are ready to pay. The next move will say plenty about how ambitious both clubs really are in this window.