Pierre Sage has pushed back on the idea that Ismaïla Sarr is on the way out, saying the winger is still with Crystal Palace, still under contract and out because of a groin problem. Liverpool have been linked with him, and one report said they had made a proposal worth around £50m that Palace rejected.

Palace's line on Sarr

Sage was even clearer when asked about the player’s future. "Yeah, I think he will stay and like I told you, he has the behaviour of someone who is happy to be here or wants to be here and prepared to be here all the season. I understand your question, but I have no doubt about that," he said.

He also removed the transfer noise from the immediate team news. "Ismaila Sarr is injured. He is in pain with his groin, that’s why you didn’t see him [train] with us today," Sage said.

That fits the more direct line he gave elsewhere: "For the moment, he is with us. He is under contract."

Liverpool's pursuit and the wider winger hunt

The Liverpool angle is real enough to keep the story alive. Fabrizio Romano reported that the club had opened talks to sign Sarr as a new winger, while another report said they had been assessing different options in the market and had not made an offer as things stood.

That split matters because it leaves the public version of events halfway between enquiry and bid. Palace’s stance is firmer, and the manager’s comments suggest they are preparing to keep Sarr rather than treat him as a player heading for the exit.

There is also a broader backdrop to Liverpool’s search. Reports said they had already pulled the plug on Yankuba Minteh after Brighton quoted them £80m, with Bradley Barcola remaining the top target. The club’s winger hunt has clearly not been narrowed to one name, even if Sarr is now in the discussion.

Sarr missed Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton and will also miss the home match against Manchester City on Friday night. Palace will be judged on how long they can keep that line intact if Liverpool come back with more than talk.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →