Liverpool's Search for Mohamed Salah's Heir: Ismaila Sarr Emerges as Contender
Liverpool’s search for Mohamed Salah’s heir has taken another sharp turn, with Ismaila Sarr emerging as a serious contender after the club cooled their interest in Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh.
Liverpool walk away from Minteh deal
Liverpool had pushed hard for Minteh. Long on their radar since Arne Slot’s time in charge at Feyenoord, the 22-year-old Gambian was the subject of a £50 million opening bid to Brighton, followed by an improved £60m offer.
Brighton, though, kept raising the bar.
The expectation inside the deal was that £70m would be enough to get it done. Liverpool even weighed up a third bid over recent days. Then came a new round of talks and a fresh demand: £80m.
At that point, the mood changed.
Multiple outlets, including Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs, report that Liverpool have effectively stepped back from Minteh. Romano says the club have “gone cold” on the winger and are now looking at “different options for the second winger” to follow their pursuit of Bradley Barcola.
The plan remains the same: find a right-sided forward capable of eventually taking the reins from Salah. The names on the list, though, are shifting.
Sarr back on the Anfield radar
One of those names is very familiar to Liverpool supporters – and not in a comfortable way.
Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, a long-time tormentor of Liverpool defences, is among the alternatives now under consideration. Turkish journalist Nevzat Dindar revealed on Saturday that Liverpool are “interested” in the Senegal international, setting up the prospect of a three-way tug-of-war with Galatasaray and Palace.
Dindar outlined just how highly Sarr is valued in Istanbul.
“Ismaila Sarr can play in many areas of the attacking line, which is why Okan Buruk wants this transfer very much,” he said, adding that Galatasaray are “extremely serious” about the deal, while Palace are equally determined not to sell.
The situation is tense. According to Dindar, Sarr wants to leave and was left out of the Palace squad for that very reason. Liverpool’s interest has also been reported, and the Premier League side now find themselves at the centre of a growing transfer storm.
Manchester United are watching closely too. As Galatasaray push to find a breakthrough with Palace, United are monitoring Sarr’s situation, aware that a player of his profile rarely comes to market without a scramble.
Palace’s stance is clear. Club sources indicate they want at least £50m for Sarr. Galatasaray, by contrast, are trying to keep the fee in the £30–43m range.
Liverpool fans know exactly what Sarr can do. Across spells with Watford and Crystal Palace, he has racked up seven goals and two assists in just 10 appearances against the Reds. The idea of that threat wearing red instead of attacking it will appeal to plenty on the Kop.
Mbaye remains in play
Sarr is not the only option.
Liverpool also retain a strong interest in Paris Saint-Germain youngster Ibrahim Mbaye. The club have already agreed a five-year contract with the 18-year-old and have held talks with PSG over a transfer.
The sticking point is, again, the fee.
Reports differ on how much PSG are demanding, with figures ranging from £43m up to £60m. The French champions are in no rush to sell a prized teenager and are pricing him accordingly.
On Tuesday, Ben Jacobs provided fresh detail on the state of play around both Minteh and Mbaye.
“With Minteh, they held some talks over the weekend. They’re deciding today; so it could change any minute and very quickly whether they want to make a third bid,” he said.
“If they go to £70m, it’ll be a done deal, according to Brighton sources. My sense is Liverpool might consider £65m first. That was discussed at the weekend, but I think if Liverpool bid one more time it’ll almost be a final bid, because they’ve got other options [like] Ibrahim Mbaye.
“But PSG want €70m [£59.8m], which is still equivalent to Minteh. So, they’ve got two options now at roughly the same price. But my expectation is that it’s Barcola plus one.”
That line is telling. Inside Liverpool’s recruitment plans, the framework looks set: Bradley Barcola plus another winger, at the top end of the market.
Whether that “one” turns out to be the ruthless Premier League menace in Sarr, the precocious Ligue 1 talent in Mbaye, or a late, left-field name, will define how Liverpool reshape life after Salah.
