Liverpool has been told to pay a huge price to sign Ismaila Sarr by Crystal Palace, as the club continues to monitor potential arrivals on the right flank.
Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring opening goal during the Premier League match between Brentford and Crystal Palace
Ismaila Sarr has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer(Image: (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images))
Crystal Palace has quoted a huge price to Liverpool for the potential signing of Ismaila Sarr, as the club faces a huge decision on the forward options at Andoni Iraola's disposal.
The Reds have so far bolstered the forward ranks with the arrival of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz, though there have been questions about the balance of the overall roster of players.
There is a clear leaning towards left-sided stars, with Federico Chiesa the only naturally right-sided option available to Andoni Iraola in the team.
That has required some inventive thinking, with Rio Ngumoha and Munoz tried on that flank so far, with a chance that a few other players could feature on their opposite side.
However, considering the exit of Mohamed Salah earlier this summer, there has been a clear desire to strengthen on the right wing in the transfer market so far.
Moves for Yan Diomande and Yankuba Minteh have proved unsuccessful, however, and opening offers for Sarr have been turned away by Crystal Palace late on in the window.
Any late move for Sarr will prove costly for Liverpool, as Foot Mercato reporter Santi Aouna reports that Crystal Palace is demanding £75 million ($101.5 million) to let the Senegalese international join the club.
It's claimed that the Eagles are unhappy, with the winger appearing unsettled about his situation, and pressure being put on the club to sell the star.
It appears unlikely that Liverpool will match that asking price, after reports stated that the club has rejected a $115 million offer for Cody Gakpo, which will deny him the chance to join Manchester City.
That should, as a result, leave the Reds without a right-winger in the summer, which has been a clear issue all summer, while Sarr could now be forced to stay at Crystal Palace, at least until the January transfer window.
Ismaila Sarr could leave Crystal Palace before the end of the window
Liverpool want to sign Ismaila Sarr(Image: Getty Images)
It's a blow for both club and player, as the 28-year-old appeared to make his desire to leave clear, while Iraola will need to find a way to balance out the options left at his disposal.
That could bring some short-term pain, with questions surrounding how Liverpool managed to fail to land a clear positional replacement for Salah.
However, in the long-term, it may prove to be the right call, as the club avoids paying too much for a potential arrival that may not work out.