Liverpool Pursue Ismaila Sarr Amid Aston Villa's Move for Mbaye
Liverpool refuse to walk away from Ismaila Sarr and are lining up a fresh offer for the Crystal Palace winger, even as another wide target heads for Aston Villa.
The Anfield club have already seen one bid turned down. On August 26, The Mirror revealed Liverpool had tabled a £50 million offer for Sarr, with the Senegal international described as “keen on a move to Anfield” before the window shuts next week. Palace’s response was firm.
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano later confirmed that the London club had rejected the proposal and stressed that Palace’s plan is to keep the 28-year-old, who has become a central figure at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool, though, are not backing off.
On August 28 at 3:04pm, Sky Sport Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported on X that Liverpool are “making another push” for Sarr and are preparing a new proposal for the winger. The race may not be one-on-one either. Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad are said to be closely monitoring the situation and ready to pounce if talks between Liverpool and Palace collapse.
Sarr has risen to the top of Liverpool’s winger shortlist after a sequence of near-misses in the market. Before moving for the Palace man, the Reds tried to strike a deal with Brighton and Hove Albion for Yankuba Minteh, only to find the price out of reach. Brighton are holding out for around £70m, and Liverpool’s two bids have fallen short of that valuation, leaving negotiations at an impasse.
The pattern has been familiar: Liverpool identify a wide forward, test the water, then run into a hard line over the fee.
Mbaye slips away to Villa
The same story unfolded with Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye. Liverpool explored a move for the 18-year-old, but PSG’s £60m valuation forced Fenway Sports Group to step back and reassess their options.
That hesitation has opened the door for a Premier League rival.
At 4:10pm on August 28, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with PSG to sign Mbaye. The deal, worth €55m, is now in the process of being finalised, with the relationship between PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris highlighted as a key factor in getting it over the line.
So while Villa move swiftly to secure one of Europe’s most highly regarded young wingers, Liverpool are still working to land Sarr, pushing again at Palace’s resolve as the clock ticks down on the window.
With Minteh priced high, Mbaye bound for Birmingham, and Al Ittihad lurking, Liverpool’s next offer for Sarr will say a lot about how badly they want him – and how far FSG are willing to go to refresh Jürgen Klopp’s attack.
