Liverpool are said to have made an offer to sign Ismaila Sarr while continuing their search to replace Mohamed Salah on the right wing, with Sadio Mane speaking highly of the winger six years ago
Ismaila Sarr
Sadio Mane has long been an admirer of Ismaila Sarr
Liverpool is reportedly looking to sign Ismaila Sarr for the second time, after holding interest six years ago.
Sarr impressed in the Premier League with Watford, where he spent four years of his career before a brief stint at Marseille, later returning to the Premier League with Crystal Palace. The Senegalese winger has put together back-to-back impressive seasons in the Premier League, with Liverpool now said to be interested.
Liverpool had made attempts to sign him back in 2020 before moving for Diogo Jota but only after Sadio Mane had told his teammates about his talent, with the warning not heeded.
After Sarr signed for Watford in 2019, Mane told The Athletic: "The first day he signed I sent him a message to say good luck and that I was happy for him.
"He’s rapid. I think defenders will struggle. Last time I was speaking to Robbo (Andy Robertson) I said ‘ Watford have a really good player. I will need to help you more otherwise Ismaila Sarr will kill you, because he is a good dribbler and very, very fast.
Ismaila Sarr
Ismaila Sarr against Liverpool and Sadio Mane in 2019
"For sure I think he will be great. I feel I need to protect him at the beginning because even though he is a really good player it is not easy in the Premier League, because I had that sort of problem.
"If there are problems to start off with then people need to take care of him, go easy on him and especially the fans need to support him and give him confidence for a great future."
Sarr has caused Liverpool lots of problems over the years and reciprocated those feelings, branding Mane a 'big brother' to him.
Ismaila Sarr
Sarr has impressed in back-to-back seasons at Crystal Palace
He said: "Sadio is talking to me all the time. He advises me to 'do this, do that'. He is a big brother for me. He gives me tips, I try to execute them and to implement them. 'If you don't play, be calm, carry on, do your job, it will be OK', that is what he says. So I try to do the same."
Liverpool made attempts to sign Sarr at around this time, before eventually bringing in Diogo Jota from Wolves.
Sarr is arguably one of the more explosive and athletic wingers in the Premier League, something which Liverpool had lacked last season.
Crystal Palace has reportedly rejected Liverpool's initial offer of $67 million (£50m). It remains to be seen whether the club will go back in with a second offer, while being put off by Yankuba Minteh's price tag from Brighton last week.