Liverpool have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr following reports that their move for Yankuba Minteh is off, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds have spent the closing weeks of the transfer window searching for reinforcements on the wing following Mohamed Salah’s departure.
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Bradley Barcola has been the club’s top target for much of the summer, with talks between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain running for weeks without a breakthrough on fee.
As the Barcola pursuit dragged on, attention turned to a second name. Yankuba Minteh emerged as Liverpool’s preferred alternative, with the Reds submitting two bids for the Brighton winger, the second worth £60m.
Minteh had reportedly agreed personal terms and spoken of his “dream” to join Liverpool.
But Brighton’s valuation kept climbing, and with the player unlikely to be fit until October at the earliest, the move has been called off.
That stall has now opened the door to a different target.
According to Romano, Liverpool have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr after the Minteh deal collapsed.
Liverpool have sent a proposal worth around £50m for the Senegal international, who is keen on the move to Anfield. Crystal Palace have already rejected two bids from Galatasaray for the same player.
Sarr, 28, was one of the standout performers in the Premier League last season.
He scored 21 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions for Palace, including nine in the Premier League and nine more during their Conference League-winning campaign.
The winger signed for Palace from Marseille in the summer of 2024 for a fee in the region of £12.5m. He still has three years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park.
Galatasaray have been the most persistent suitors for Sarr this summer, having already seen bids turned down as they push to add a wide attacker.
Sarr already knows Liverpool well. He has scored seven goals and provided two assists in ten appearances against the Reds across his time at Watford and Palace, making him one of the more prolific opponents Liverpool have faced in recent seasons.
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🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool open talks to sign Ismaila Sarr as new winger! 🔴🇸🇳
Move follows Minteh deal called off due to Brighton requests.#LFC sent a proposal worth around £50m for Senegal winger who’s keen on move.
Crystal Palace already rejected two bids from Galatasaray. pic.twitter.com/zQm40sXo8n
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026