Liverpool are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Ismaïla Sarr, which will likely make way for Cody Gakpo to make his move to Manchester City.
A £123m deal to sign Bradley Barcola is close to being completed, after an agreement was struck with PSG. The French forward is completing a medical with the Reds today ahead of what will be the second most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history after the £125m deal to sign Alexander Isak last summer.
For better or worse, a deal to sign Sarr comes with significantly less fanfare, with little clarity on how signing the Senegal international addresses the need for a Mohamed Salah replacement.
Liverpool have known since March 24 that they would need to sign an elite replacement for the Egyptian King; however, with little more than 48 hours remaining in the summer transfer window, there is no sign of such a transfer.
Liverpool close to completing deal to bring Sarr to Anfield
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool will submit a new bid for Sarr as talks with Crystal Palace reach an advanced stage.
Tavolieri reports: “Ismaïla Sarr move to Liverpool getting closer!
“The Senegalese’s pushing to join the Reds, in advanced talks with Crystal Palace to finalize the deal.
“LFC wants the new offer they plan to submit in the coming hours to be the decisive one.
“Al-Ittihad now officially out of the race, move unfeasible at this stage.”
??Ismaïla Sarr move to Liverpool getting closer !
?? The Senegalese's pushing to join the Reds, in advanced talks with Crystal Palace to finalize the deal.
? LFC wants the new offer they plan to submit in the coming hours to be the decisive one.
?? Al-Ittihad now officially… pic.twitter.com/jjvHqbvYoQ
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 30, 2026
The Sarr signing makes little sense to me
For a starter, Sarr is a centre-forward and is 28. Already, this doesn’t tick any of the boxes for what Liverpool should be looking at in terms of replacing Salah.
His record for Palace is hardly electric either. 33 goals in 93 appearances is decent, but not at the level that would change Liverpool’s chances for the season ahead. Cover for Alexander Isak is needed in the wake of Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles tendon rupture last season, but if that’s Sarr’s role, then a right winger is still needed.
I will confess to not understanding the approach Liverpool are taking late in this window, with a lot of their actions – from the outside – appearing to be scatterbrained and not informed by any real tactics.
