Liverpool Pursue Ismaila Sarr as Mohamed Salah Replacement

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

The move comes at the end of a messy, meandering winger hunt that has already taken Liverpool across half of Europe and into several dead ends.

From Salah’s exit to a scramble for width

Salah’s departure to Trabzonspor left a hole on the right of Liverpool’s attack that no one at Anfield has been able to ignore. Victor Munoz arrived from Osasuna earlier in the summer, but he was only ever the first piece, not the full answer.

Yan Diomande was initially installed as the marquee target. Liverpool even put a bid on the table. It didn’t matter. The Ivorian’s eyes were elsewhere and he eventually chose Real Madrid, forcing Liverpool to rip up the first version of their attacking plan.

That misfire nudged the recruitment team towards Bradley Barcola. The Frenchman, a natural left‑sider, has since become their leading winger target, even though the right flank remains the more obvious vacancy.

Minteh chase stalls as Brighton dig in

While Barcola stayed at the top of the list, Liverpool kept hunting for a right‑sided option. Yankuba Minteh quickly moved into focus and the club tested Brighton’s resolve with two bids this month.

Both were turned down.

Ben Jacobs reported that Brighton have slapped an £80m price tag on Minteh, a figure Liverpool regard as excessive. He wrote on X that the club’s previous £60m offer was viewed as “competitive” at Anfield but still rejected, and that Liverpool are not expected to return with a third bid unless the valuation drops.

The stand‑off has chilled talks. Romano underlined that point, revealing that negotiations for Minteh had “gone cold” in the last 24 hours, with Liverpool now “exploring different options for the second winger” and insisting Barcola “always” remains the first priority.

The pressure to find an alternative finally pushed Liverpool towards south London.

£50m on the table for Sarr

Romano has now disclosed that Liverpool have opened talks with Crystal Palace over Sarr and sent a proposal worth around £50m. The Senegal international is described as keen on the move, adding another layer of tension to a situation already simmering at Selhurst Park.

Palace have been here before this summer. Galatasaray have already seen two bids rejected for Sarr, and Romano reported last week that the winger had agreed personal terms with the Turkish club and was pushing to leave.

At that stage, there was no agreement between the clubs and Palace were determined to keep him. Sarr, though, “keeps pushing for the move,” Romano said.

His stance has already spilled onto the pitch – or rather, off it.

Sage’s explanation as Sarr sits out

Sarr was left out of the Palace squad for their 2-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend, a decision that immediately set alarm bells ringing among supporters who had been told to expect him in the line‑up.

Manager Pierre Sage moved to explain the omission.

“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.”

Sage’s words framed it as a medical call. The backdrop, though, is anything but straightforward: a player who has agreed terms with one club, is now the subject of a major offer from another, and a team trying to protect both its asset and its season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have made their move. Barcola remains the headline objective, but with a £50m bid in for Sarr and Minteh effectively parked, the question is no longer whether they will sign a winger.

It’s which one will be wearing red when the window slams shut.