Liverpool step up Ismaila Sarr transfer talks with Senegal international believing time is right to quit Crystal Palace
LIVERPOOL are continuing talks with Crystal Palace over Ismaila Sarr as the Senegal star pushes for a move to Anfield.
SunSport has been told Sarr is desperate for a fresh challenge after a hugely successful spell at Palace, having helped the Eagles win the FA Cup and Conference League.
The feeling within the Senegal international’s camp is that the forward has run his race at Selhurst Park and believes the time is right to move on.
Sarr feels he has served Palace well and is now keen to test himself at the highest level with Liverpool.
Earlier this summer, Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray explored moves for the winger.
However, Sarr was understood to be behind Marcus Rashford and Rafael Leao on their respective wishlists.
Leao’s move to Galatasaray has now opened up the possibility of Sarr heading to Liverpool, a switch which would be warmly welcomed by the player.
Sarr enjoyed his best season in front of goal last term, scoring 21 times in all competitions.
He had also netted 12 goals the previous campaign as he established himself as one of Palace’s key attacking players.
That came during a period in which the Eagles saw a number of important players leave, including Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and, more recently, Marc Guehi.
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Sarr believes he has contributed his share to the Palace cause and feels a move away, with the club receiving a sizeable fee, would represent a fair outcome.
The Senegalese forward still has three years remaining on his Palace contract, however, meaning the Eagles remain in a strong negotiating position.
SunSport has been told an offer has been made to Palace for Sarr, although sources at the club have remained tight-lipped over the precise figure.
Liverpool and Sarr’s representatives are now waiting for Palace’s response, with the expectation that there could be movement before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
Liverpool have also been closing in on a deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola but remain keen to add another right-sided winger to their squad.
The Reds previously saw a bid in the region of £55million for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh rejected.
Like Minteh, Sarr is predominantly a right-sided winger who can contribute both goals and defensive work.
He has been left out of Palace’s opening two games of the season, although manager Pierre Sage insists he expects to keep his forward.
Sage told the BBC: “For the moment, yes, because when you have three years on the contract it is not easy to leave.”
Asked about a potential approach from Liverpool, Sage added: “I understand that for everybody to have this kind of contact [from another club] is difficult, because you hesitate a lot.
“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.
“We just want him on the pitch as quickly as possible.”
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