Former Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins has insisted Adam Wharton isn’t the only player the Eagles have been relying on this season. The English pundit spoke ahead of the Europa Conference League last-16 first leg against AEK Larnaca.
Wharton has been impressive ever since he arrived at Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers in early 2024. Dazzling displays from the young English midfielder have led to talk over a possible big-money move this summer.
Palace’s FA Cup win has unfortunately led to several big-name players departing in recent windows. Eberechi Eze headed to Arsenal last summer, and Marc Guehi joined Manchester City in January.
Tomkins ‘massive’ Sarr fan
Ismaila Sarr seems here to stay, and he has been thriving in South London. He arrived from French club Marseille in the summer of 2024 for around £12.5m.
That has proven to be a bargain, given Sarr’s exploits with the Eagles, where he played a crucial role in the FA Cup triumph. His best performance came in the 3-0 semi-final win over Aston Villa, bagging a brace and assisting Eze.
Tomkins waxed lyrical about the Senegalese attacker ahead of Palace’s clash with Larnaca. He said on TNT Sports:
“You don’t know what you’re going to get. He can run in behind, he can run at you. I think he’s got a bit of everything. I’m a massive fan of his, and when he was at Watford, I was a massive fan then.”
Wharton has earned plenty of plaudits this season but Tomkins pointed out Sarr’s importance:
“He’s come to Palace… he’s started so well. And again we were talking about how much Palace rely on Wharton. I think Sarr is massive for the club, really, because Mateta has been out for a while. Sarr’s chipped in with 13 goals in all competitions. It’s a great return and a great season he’s had.”
Sarr has been a mainstay in Glasner’s frontline this season, and his versatility has been effective. He hasn’t just been used in his preferred right-wing position but in several attacking roles.
The 28-year-old’s impact since joining the club is undeniable and he will be crucial if his team are to achieve more trophy success. That starts with prevailing over Larnaca in the Conference League last 16.
Why Sarr joined Palace
Sarr returned to England when he signed for Palace, having been a success at Watford. He spent four seasons at Vicarage Road, scoring 34 goals in 131 appearances.
Glasner and former sporting director Dougie Freedman were influential in convincing Sarr to head to Selhurst Park. He explained in a message to fans upon his arrival that they “told me about their project, and I accepted because it is a good project.”
Sarr said:
“I’m going to enjoy playing in front of Palace’s fans and hopefully show them my qualities. I like the team, the club and the fans here, and I’m going to give my all for the project.”
| Ismaila Sarr (Premier League 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 19 |
| Goals: | 7 |
| Assists: | 1 |
| Goals per game: | 0.7 |
| Goal conversion: | 21% |
| Big chances created: | 3 |
| Successful dribbles: | 0.4 (36%) |
| Ground duels won: | 3.1 (48%) |
Sarr was rewarded for his faith in the project when he got his hands on an FA Cup winners’ medal. He will be eager to add a Conference League triumph to his list of achievements.
