Liverpool's Interest in Ismaila Sarr: Injury Update from Crystal Palace

Liverpool move for Sarr stalls as Palace boss insists winger is genuinely injured

Crystal Palace manager Sage has shut down talk that Ismaila Sarr is refusing to train to force a transfer, insisting the winger is struggling with a groin problem as speculation over a move to Liverpool intensifies.

Liverpool have sounded out Palace over Sarr after their move for Yankuba Minteh collapsed, with reports of a £50 million offer on the table. That interest has sparked claims the 28-year-old has downed tools to engineer a switch to Anfield or Galatasaray.

Sage was having none of it.

“Ismaila Sarr is injured. He is in pain with his groin – that’s why you didn’t see him with us today,” the Palace boss said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. “He is in individual training because he is really in pain with his groin. But we’ll prepare him, he needs time.”

Sarr has already missed Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton and will also sit out Friday night’s clash with Manchester City. For a player at the centre of such a storm, the timing of the injury has inevitably raised eyebrows.

The noise around him is only getting louder. Liverpool’s interest, links to Galatasaray and attention from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal have turned Sarr into one of the most talked-about players of the window.

Sage accepts the lure of Liverpool changes the picture for any player, but he remains convinced Sarr will respect the three years left on his contract.

“It’s always difficult for a player when your name is associated with a club like Liverpool,” he said. “For the moment, the most important thing is to understand the player is not able to play and is in treatment, and what happens with his potential future is really far from me.”

Behind the scenes, the manager has moved to steady the situation. Sage held private talks with Sarr this week, keen to protect the forward’s mindset as rumours swirl and the clock ticks towards deadline day.

“I understand that for everybody to have this kind of contact is difficult, because you hesitate a lot,” Sage admitted. “But for the moment, he is with us. He is under contract. He is injured and maybe you can make a link between his injury and the situation. But for me, he is honest and I have no problem with that.”

So the picture is clear from Palace’s side: Sarr is hurt, not on strike. Liverpool are circling, the window is closing, and a £50 million question hangs over a winger currently stuck in the treatment room.