Liverpool have bid £50 million for Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, the same winger they considered in 2020 before signing Diogo Jota instead
Diogo Jota signing for Liverpool at Anfield on September 19, 2020 in Liverpool, England.
The late Diogo Jota signing for Liverpool on September 19, 2020.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool's pursuit of a new winger this summer has revived a transfer storyline from six years ago, as the club has turned its attention to Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, the same player it once considered before ultimately signing Diogo Jota back in 2020.
Liverpool has submitted an opening £50 million ($68 million) bid for the 28-year-old Senegal international after walking away from talks with Brighton over Yankuba Minteh, whose £70 million ($95 million) valuation proved too steep across two rejected offers.
Crystal Palace has rebuffed the initial approach, insisting Sarr is not for sale and valuing him closer to £55-60 ($75-$81.5) million following a standout campaign in which he scored 21 goals.
Sarr is reportedly keen on the move, and Galatasaray has also shown heavy interest, having previously had multiple bids turned down. Sarr missed Palace's opening Premier League match against Everton after sitting out training.
The current pursuit echoes Liverpool's approach back in 2020, when the club first held talks with Watford over signing Sarr, then a winger with close ties to Sadio Mane, as it searched for additional attacking depth alongside Mohamed Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium
Ismaila Sarr has been linked with a transfer switch to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images))
Rather than meet Watford's demands, which included a larger upfront fee and add-ons that pushed the total closer to £50 million ($68 million), Liverpool turned instead to Wolves forward Diogo Jota, who arrived in a £45 million ($61 million) deal that was more favorable in structure, with a smaller initial payment that suited the club's financial approach at the time.
Jota went on to make 131 appearances for Wolves before the move, but it was at Liverpool where he became a key figure, scoring more than 65 goals across parts of five seasons and winning a Premier League title, an FA Cup and two League Cups.
Sarr, for his part, had once expressed enthusiasm about a potential move to Anfield even after Liverpool opted for Jota.
Ismaila Sarr has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer
Ismaila Sarr has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer
"Liverpool are a really great team, everyone would love to play there," Sarr said in 2020. "Everyone would love to play at Anfield." In the years since, Sarr has developed into one of the Premier League's most productive wingers against Liverpool specifically, scoring seven goals against the club across all competitions, trailing only Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland among active players.
Liverpool's renewed need for wide attacking reinforcements has grown more urgent following a turbulent stretch for the club's forward line. Jota died in July 2025 alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car accident in Spain, a tragedy that devastated the club and its supporters.
Since then, Liverpool have also lost both Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah, further thinning their options out wide. The club signed Victor Munoz in July, but manager Andoni Iraola has continued pushing for more depth, particularly with Tottenham and Manchester City circling current forward Cody Gakpo.
With the transfer window closing Monday at 11 pm, Liverpool remains separately engaged in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Bradley Barcola as the club works to finalize its attacking options before the deadline.