Liverpool's Bid for Ismaila Sarr Faces Injury Setback
Liverpool’s pursuit of Ismaila Sarr has hit a very different kind of obstacle than the rumour mill suggested.
With their move for Yankuba Minteh collapsing, Liverpool turned their attention to the Crystal Palace winger and lodged a £50 million bid. Noise around Sarr immediately spiked. Stories surfaced claiming he was refusing to train in a bid to force a move to Anfield or Galatasaray.
Crystal Palace manager Sage has shut that down.
“He is really in pain with his groin”
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Sage was clear: Sarr is not on strike, he is injured.
“Ismaila Sarr is injured. He is in pain with his groin - that’s why you didn’t see him [train] with us today,” the manager said. “He is in individual training because he is really in pain with his groin. But we’ll prepare him, he needs time.”
That problem has already kept the 28-year-old out of Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton. He will also miss Friday night’s meeting with Manchester City, a brutal fixture to sit out while speculation about your future rages.
The timing, of course, invites suspicion. A marquee winger, a huge bid from Liverpool, a sudden absence from training. The dots almost connect themselves.
Sage insists they shouldn’t.
Transfer storm, contract reality
The Palace boss admitted the scale of the interest around Sarr, especially once Liverpool’s offer went in. But he also pointed to the contract that still binds the forward to Selhurst Park.
Sarr has three years left on his deal, and Sage believes the player intends to respect it.
“It’s always difficult for a player when your name is associated with a club like Liverpool,” he said. “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 message was deliberate: medical room first, boardroom later.
Private talks and public backing
With the transfer window ticking towards its close and Sarr’s name linked not only to Liverpool but also to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, Sage has moved to protect his player from the chaos.
He held private talks with Sarr this week, aiming to steady his mindset as the speculation swirls around him.
“I understand that for everybody to have this kind of contact is difficult, because you hesitate a lot,” Sage continued. “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.”
That line matters. Sage knows the narrative: ‘mystery injury’, big bid, player agitating. He is pushing back, vouching for Sarr’s professionalism and honesty at a time when doubt is the easiest conclusion.
Liverpool wait. Palace treat. Sarr watches from the treatment room while his name is kicked around Europe.
When the groin heals and the window finally slams shut, which shirt will he be pulling over his head?
