Liverpool Pursue Ismaila Sarr as Mohamed Salah Successor

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

The move drops another twist into a winger hunt that has dominated Liverpool’s summer.

From Salah’s exit to a frantic search

Salah’s departure to Trabzonspor left a gaping hole on the right of Liverpool’s attack. Victor Munoz arrived from Osasuna earlier in the window, but he was never going to be the only answer out wide.

Yan Diomande was the early obsession. Liverpool made him their top target and even lodged a bid. The message from the player’s camp soon became clear: he preferred other destinations. He eventually signed for Real Madrid, forcing Liverpool to redraw their plans.

Bradley Barcola then moved to the top of the list. The Frenchman is more comfortable off the left, but Liverpool’s recruitment team have kept him as their main winger priority while scouring the market for a right-sided option to fill Salah’s old lane.

Minteh chase stalls, Brighton stand firm

That search led them to Yankuba Minteh. Twice this month Liverpool have tested Brighton’s resolve. Twice they’ve been knocked back.

Journalist Ben Jacobs reported that Brighton have now set the bar at £80m, a figure Liverpool consider excessive. He revealed that a previous £60m offer was viewed inside Anfield as competitive, but Brighton still rejected it and have shown no sign of softening.

Jacobs wrote on X that Liverpool are not expected to return with a third bid unless the valuation drops significantly. For now, that door looks closed.

Romano backed up the sense of stalemate, stating that negotiations for Minteh had “gone cold” over the last 24 hours, with Liverpool already exploring “different options” for a second winger while keeping Barcola as “first priority”.

Sarr in the spotlight

That shift in focus has brought Sarr to the forefront.

Romano has now revealed that Liverpool have opened talks with Crystal Palace and sent a proposal worth around £50m for the Senegal international. He added that Sarr is keen on the move, with Liverpool positioning him as a serious candidate to bolster their wide options.

Crystal Palace have already turned down two offers from Galatasaray for Sarr, but the player has been pushing for a move away from Selhurst Park. Romano reported last week that Sarr had agreed personal terms with the Turkish club and wanted the deal, even as Palace resisted.

The tension around his future spilled onto the pitch – or rather, off it.

Sage’s explanation

Sarr was left out of the Palace squad for their 2-0 defeat to Everton, a decision that immediately sparked speculation given the ongoing interest from abroad.

Manager Pierre Sage moved to calm the noise, insisting the call was made on medical grounds rather than the transfer saga.

“It’s normal (the panic from fans) because two days ago, I said he will play,” Sage said. “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.”

Whether that precaution was purely physical or also influenced by the growing uncertainty over Sarr’s future, Liverpool have sensed an opening.

Barcola remains the headline target. But a £50m bid for Sarr underlines the urgency at Anfield: Salah is gone, the Minteh trail has gone cold, and Liverpool are now testing Palace’s resolve to solve a problem that will define their season.