Top News

Ismaila Sarr needs emotional recovery after failed Liverpool move, says Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage
Sameer Bhatia | September 4, 2026 9:40 AM CST

Pierre Sage has said Ismaila Sarr will need to recover emotionally after his proposed transfer to Liverpool broke down.

Pierre Sage has explained that Ismaila Sarr will require time to get over the collapse of his move to Liverpool, and also spoke about whether the Senegal forward could still head to Anfield in January.

Liverpool made an approach for Sarr as they looked for a replacement for Mohamed Salah, while Brighton's Yankuba Minteh was also under consideration.

Neither attacker ended up joining Liverpool, and Cody Gakpo, who had been close to a transfer to Manchester City, has remained on Merseyside to offer extra cover on the right wing.

Liverpool had a mixed transfer window, bringing in La Liga youngster Victor Munoz and Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.

Neither of those arrivals was viewed as enough to fill the major gap left by Salah on the right side, which pushed the club into late attempts to sign Sarr and Minteh.

In the end, both moves fell through, and Liverpool are now likely to continue until January without a natural right winger of the level they require.

Crystal Palace manager Sage has said the Senegal international will need time to recover from the failed transfer, while making it clear that the club do not plan to sell Sarr in January.

"He has to digest for sure because it's a dream for a lot of players to play with this kind of club," said Sage.

"He had a good opportunity but in the end it didn't work. If he wants to continue, you have to have a good season with us as he did last year.

"We know he needs time. Like every bad situation, time does the job and we need time for that," he concluded.

When asked if the Senegalese attacker could make the move to Anfield in January, Sage was quick to dismiss the possibility.

"I don’t think [he will leave]," said the Palace boss. "I don’t think so, because all the clubs are in their season.

"We have a decision to take about the European list. It's difficult to move the team when you are in this competition," he concluded.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK