Liverpool Shifts Transfer Target to Ismaila Sarr with £50 Million Offer After Yankuba Minteh Deal Falls Through

Liverpool have made a substantial £50 million offer to Crystal Palace for winger Ismaila Sarr following the collapse of their pursuit of Yankuba Minteh. Manager Andoni Iraola is eager to add attacking reinforcements before the summer transfer window closes.

Abandoning Minteh Deal

The club decided to end negotiations for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Yankuba Minteh after two offers were rejected. Both bids fell well short of Brighton's firm £70 million valuation, forcing Liverpool to seek alternatives quickly with only five days left before Monday’s deadline.

Sarr’s Appeal and Competition

Ismaila Sarr, who joined Crystal Palace two years ago, reportedly favors a move to Merseyside. This urgency follows setbacks like the tragic loss of Diogo Jota and the departures of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah, making additions on the wings a clear priority.

The chase won’t be easy as both Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray are also interested. Reports suggest Galatasaray is in advanced discussions, while Al-Hilal closely monitors developments.

Sarr’s Recent Form

Last season, the 28-year-old featured in 45 games across all competitions, scoring 21 goals and assisting twice. His contributions helped Palace secure the UEFA Europa Conference League title. At the recent World Cup, he impressed by scoring four goals before Senegal exited in the round of 32 against Belgium.

Iraola’s Call for Reinforcements

"Some deals you have to wait until the end. But the end is the important picture, the one we will have on September 1, because it is true that we are still quite thin," said Iraola in a Sky Sports interview. He acknowledged ongoing challenges and admitted his initial plan to strengthen every position with top-tier players had to be adjusted. Interest from Tottenham and Manchester City in Cody Gakpo adds pressure on squad depth.

Next Steps for Liverpool

Liverpool now waits for Crystal Palace's response to the £50 million bid. If accepted, Sarr could soon undergo a medical ahead of Monday’s deadline. Meanwhile, the club is continuing talks with Paris Saint-Germain about striker Bradley Barcola to strengthen their attacking options further.