The frantic closing hours of the transfer window always test the resolve of any football club, but Crystal Palace’s stance on Ismaila Sarr has ultimately held firm. Despite strong interest and heavy maneuvering from across Europe and the Middle East, the winger looks set to stay put in SE25.
It was never going to be straightforward. Fabrizio Romano revealed that Galatasaray and Liverpool had both lodged concrete bids earlier in the window, tabling £34m and £50m respectively, while Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal also hovered in the background. Yet, sporting hierarchies rarely stand still when dominoes begin to fall elsewhere on the continent.
Alternative Targets Shift the Landscape
Galatasaray’s initial £34m swoop for Sarr quickly evolved. The Turkish giants pivoted decisively, striking a £38.5m agreement with AC Milan for Rafael Leao. Though Aston Villa remain in the conversation preferring an initial loan while Milan push for a permanent sale—Galatasaray’s pursuit of Sarr is firmly in the rearview mirror.
A similar story unfolded on Merseyside. Liverpool opted against lodging a second bid for the Palace number seven, with BBC Sport reporting that a blockbuster £120m deal to sign PSG winger Bradley Barcola is closing in on completion. With both Galatasaray and Liverpool securing headline-grabbing wide options, the appetite for Sarr naturally evaporated.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal turned their attention to north London, with CBS Sports indicating that a €66m (£57m) move to bring Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli to the Saudi Pro League is all but arranged.
Lingering Saudi Interest Keeps the Door Ajar
Pierre Sage can breathe a sigh of relief as the clock ticks down toward the 11pm Tuesday deadline, but total tranquility remains a luxury in modern football.
Sacha Tavolieri reports that “several” Saudi outfits retain an interest, most notably Al Ittihad. The Pro League club are actively hunting for a replacement for Moussa Diaby following his return to Bayer Leverkusen, putting Sarr firmly on their radar.
We know better than to dismiss late-window drama from the Gulf state. After all, Al Ittihad famously tested Liverpool’s resolve with a staggering £150m bid for Mohamed Salah on deadline day back in September 2023.
Barring a truly irresistible, late-night financial sledgehammer from Saudi Arabia, though, Palace have played their cards right. Sarr is going nowhere—and Selhurst Park can finally exhale.
