Ismaila Sarr Injury Update: Pierre Sage Expects Winger to Stay at Crystal Palace

Pierre Sage expects Ismaila Sarr to stay at Crystal Palace despite firm interest from Liverpool and rejected bids from Galatasaray – and insists the winger’s absence is down to injury, not agitation.

Sarr, 28, missed Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton and will also sit out Friday night’s home clash with Manchester City. His name has been dragged through the final weeks of the window, but Sage moved to shut down talk of a stand-off.

“For the moment, yeah,” Sage said when asked if he believes Sarr will remain at Selhurst Park. “Because when you have three years on the contract, it is not easy to leave.”

The situation is simple in his eyes: Sarr is hurt. Not hiding.

“Ismaila Sarr is injured. He is in pain with his groin – that’s why you didn’t see him with us today,” Sage explained. “He is in individual training because he is really in pain with his groin. But we’ll prepare him, he needs time.”

Sage admitted he had hoped for a quicker recovery, but made it clear there is “no chance” of Sarr featuring against City. The new manager has spoken repeatedly with the Senegal international this week and pushed back at claims the player is downing tools to force a move.

“I thought it would be quicker, but I am not a doctor,” he said. “That is why I wait for him and we prepare for him to come back with us.”

Transfer noise, though, is impossible to ignore. Liverpool’s approach and Galatasaray’s failed bids have placed Sarr in the shop window, and Sage recognises the strain that brings.

“I understand that for everybody to have this kind of contact is difficult, because you hesitate a lot. But for the moment, he is with us. He is under contract,” Sage continued.

“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. I spoke with him this morning about that, yesterday about that, too. And we just want him on the pitch.”

The Frenchman pointed to the wider reality of the market: agents circling, families pushing, players caught in the middle.

“Football is like this now, we know when it is the transfer window that there is a lot of noise, a lot of stuff for the player,” he said. “Maybe some of them are not really comfortable with this situation – and their agent, too, their family. That’s why it is not really a good period when you are inside in a club, but you know when it is finished we will only be concerned with our performances. We just have to wait for that.”

Liverpool’s interest adds another layer. When a club of that size calls, it tends to linger in a player’s mind.

“It’s always difficult for a player when your name is associated with a club like Liverpool,” Sage admitted.

For now, though, his stance is blunt: Sarr is a Crystal Palace player, under treatment, not on strike.

“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.”

The window will give its verdict soon enough. Until then, Palace wait for their winger’s groin to heal – and for the noise around his name to finally die down.