Ismaila Sarr's desired move to one of football's giants, Liverpool, didn't occur on deadline day, and after his agent spoke out on his treatment, new manager Pierre Sage has now addressed the situation.
Sage told media (via BBC Sport):
"Like every bad situation, time does the job and we need time for that. He needs time too."
He added: "First of all he needs to recover because he was and is injured. He is our player and we are happy with that. He has to digest for sure because it’s a dream for a lot of players to play with this kind of club [Liverpool]."
Sage insisted Sarr can get back on track at Palace: "He had a good opportunity but in the end it didn’t work. If he wants to continue, you have to have a good season with us as he did last year. We know he needs time."
Why Did Ismaila Sarr's Move to Liverpool Fail?
Liverpool were interested in the Senegalese winger, with reports from TEAMtalk indicating that the club's £40 million verbal offer was short of Crystal Palace's valuation. A reported £80 million package for Sarr was wanted by the reigning Conference League champions.
Sarr hasn't appeared in either of Palace's Premier League games so far, as he is currently sidelined with a groin injury. He finished last season with 21 goals in 45 games across competitions.
Diomansy Kamara's statement following the failed move
Sarr's agent, Diomansy Kamara, delivered a damning verdict on his client's denial of a move to Liverpool. He posted a statement on his Instagram account:
“We have to get out of this logic where the African player can sometimes give the feeling that he is just a commodity: you buy it, you set its price, you negotiate its future and, too often, your will seems to go to the background.
Our African players deserve respect. The respect of their work. The respect of their career. Respecting their ambitions. The respect of their voices. A transfer shouldn't just be a matter of two clubs and numbers. Behind every contract, there's a man, a career, dreams and life choices.
The fact that clubs can sometimes have the final word is a reality of professional football. But one question remains: what about the career and the will of the player? The player must be able to be heard and respected in the decisions that determine his future. Let's never forget what's important: behind every success, it's the players who write history first."
What's Next for Sarr?
From an off-pitch perspective, Sarr will likely have to see out the rest of the season as it is unlikely Liverpool will spend close to £80 million in a January window, especially after signing Bradley Barcola. Liverpool will ideally aim to sell Cody Gakpo to raise the funds to sign the talented winger.
On the pitch, Palace will need their starting winger in their squad at a minimum as they prepare to play five games in 15 days in their Europa League and Carabao Cup campaigns.
Two games without a win, six goals conceded, and no goals scored by a Crystal Palace player have set up a difficult period for the South London side, but as they showed last season, they can compete on multiple fronts. A player who knows that more than anyone is Sarr, so the sooner he can return to the starting eleven, the better for Sage and the Eagles.
