Ismaïla Sarr has agreed terms with Galatasaray and is actively pushing to complete a move to the Turkish giants, explaining his shock absence from Crystal Palace’s matchday squad in their opening-day defeat to Everton.
According to reports from transfer insider @_LucaTM, the Senegalese international wants to establish himself as an indispensable cornerstone of Galatasaray’s attack alongside marquee striker Victor Osimhen. Sarr has reportedly been “captivated” by fan videos sent to him by the Turkish supporters, fueling his desire to make the move to Istanbul.
Further details reported by @nadiaakarimm confirm that Sarr reached a full agreement with Galatasaray and subsequently sat out of Pierre Sage’s squad for the trip to Goodison Park to avoid risking a deal. Sarr strongly believes that playing alongside Osimhen in Galatasaray’s attack will offer him the platform to play Champions League football and bolster his chances of contending for the African Player of the Year award.
Galatasaray have made a formal bid to sign Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace. Fabrizio Romano claims that the Eagles have rejected an opening offer from the Turkish giants, and would only sell the Senegal international in the event of a “really huge” bid – after he scored 21 goals in 45 appearances last season to finish as Crystal Palace’s top scorer. Reports indicate Palace have slapped a €60m price tag on the winger.
Many Crystal Palace fans have scoffed at the mere suggestion Sarr could be sold, but clubs don’t tend to make an actual bid unless someone has given them encouragement to do so – as football agent James Lippett told Sky Sports in August 2016.
Lippett – an agent for World in Motion – told Sky Sports: “The buying club will always want to know they have a chance of doing the deal, otherwise they will look stupid.
“The conversation with the agent usually goes: 1) What is the player going to cost? 2) How long is left on their contract? 3) What does the player want to earn? 4) What does he currently earn? and 5) What is their family and personal situation?
“There will normally be three or four bids done very simply by e-mail. The opening bid will be rejected in 99.9% of cases. The second gets closer, and then one or two final bids. It’s like a game of poker.”
James McFadden added to this while in charge of Rangers, when Bordeaux bid for Alfredo Morelos in 2018. He said: “Usually there is a reason these clubs come in.”
Why Crystal Palace would sell Sarr after the 2025/26 campaign he just had, as well as his efforts at the World Cup where he scored four goals in four games, is beyond me.
However, the Eagles have already offered hints this summer that they are willing to action ruthless moves for succession planning if it makes financial sense.
For example, despite being a firm fan favourite and one of the best players at Selhurst Park, Daniel Munoz could be sold this summer after the signing of another right wing-back nine years younger than the 30-year-old Colombian in Anan Khalaili.
With Sarr – who Manchester United also like – turning 29 in February, the Eagles may have a similar viewpoint and could be willing to cash in for the right price.
Why Crystal Palace cannot afford to lose Sarr
Crystal Palace previously did something similar when offloading Joachim Andersen while his stock was high, bringing Maxence Lacroix in to replace the Dane.
However, I strongly believe that Sarr is impossible to replace with less than two weeks of the transfer window remaining. It would be incredibly cruel on Pierre Sage for Crystal Palace to sell the former Rennes star.
The 19-year-old Zavier Gozo will need time to adapt after arriving from Major League Soccer, and even some of the best forwards on the planet failed to score as many as Sarr’s 21 goals in all competitions last term.
In fact, Igor Thiago and Erling Haaland were the only Premier League players to score more goals across all competitions last season than the Crystal Palace No.7 which says it all.
Forget Sarr’s age. Forget Squad Cost Ratio rules and balancing financial sheets. When it comes down to actually playing the sport on the pitch, the 2026/27 campaign would become unquestionably more difficult if the 28-year-old left.
It simply cannot be allowed to happen.
A Toothless Display Shows What’s At Stake
For the traveling Palace faithful who made the journey north to Everton, the match itself felt like a grim preview of life without Sarr. The Eagles didn’t play badly on paper in fact, they controlled 58% of the ball and created enough clear chances to win the match, accumulating an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.04. Eddie Nketiah was denied by Jordan Pickford, and Jean-Philippe Mateta struck the woodwork when an equaliser beckoned.
Yet, as is so often the case in the Premier League, clinical quality in the box dictates everything. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall put Everton ahead before the break, and Thierno Barry doubled the lead shortly after. Palace lacked that final execution the exact edge Ismaïla Sarr provided 21 times last season. Throw in a painful knee injury to Chadi Riad in the second half, and Sage’s opening weekend went from concerning to outright alarming.
The hierarchy at Selhurst Park must read the room: selling your top scorer with the transfer window closing rapidly is a recipe for disaster. The board must dig their heels in and ensure Sarr stays, or risk rendering this entire campaign a bitter, unnecessary struggle.
