Crystal Palace have submitted a bid of around £11.7 million to Olympique de Marseille to secure the services of Senegalese winger Ismaïla Sarr, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Crystal Palace Bid for Ismaïla Sarr
Ismaïla Sarr’s Journey
The football journey of the 26-year-old started with Senegalese club Génération Foot. He showed great talent, which led to his first professional contract with FC Metz in 2016. During his debut season in Ligue 1 with Metz, Sarr made an impact by scoring five goals and providing five assists. His dynamic playing style caught the attention of many.
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In 2017, Sarr moved to Rennes, where he signed a four-year contract. Despite facing an injury, he helped them secure a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1, earning a spot in the UEFA Europa League. Sarr marked his UEFA Europa League debut with a memorable goal against FK Jablonec, which helped elevate his performances to the global stage. In 2019, the attacker made the switch to Watford in the Premier League.
Details of the Palace’s Offer
Romano reported that Crystal Palace submit a bid of £11.7 million to Olympique de Marseille (OM) in their pursuit of the Senegalese winger. Additionally, they’ve sweetened the deal with an extra £840,700 in performance-related add-ons. This substantial package reflects an eagerness to secure Sarr’s services.
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The proposed agreement also includes a sell-on clause. If the Eagles sell Sarr in the future, Marseille would be entitled to a percentage of the transfer fee. Such clauses are common in football contracts and allow selling clubs to benefit from their former players’ success elsewhere. Romano also reported that the deal is in its final stages and that Sarr is close to agreeing on a five-year deal with Crystal Palace.
This long-term contract suggests that Palace see Sarr as a key player for their future ambitions in the Premier League.
What Sarr’s Move Means for Both Clubs?
For Crystal Palace
Sarr is lightning-fast and possesses exceptional dribbling skills. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one would add a new dimension to the Eagle’s offensive play. With him on the wing, they could launch rapid counter-attacks, catching opponents off guard. Had has consistently found the back of the net throughout his career.
Across multiple teams and leagues he has racked up an impressive 111 goal contributions with 62 strikes of his own and the rest being assists. This kind of well rounded chance creation is a great sign for a winger.
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Crystal Palace have often lacked a prolific scorer; but the arrival of Oliver Glasner changed the narrative by utilizing Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise’s explosiveness to complement Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s clinical finishing which allowed the Frenchman to rack up 13 goals in 13 appearances towards the end of the 2023/24 season- more than any other player in the top flight during that time, and with Olise’s recent move to Bayern, Sarr’s arrival could keep the creative spark alive at Selhurst Park.
The Senegalese winger can operate on either flank, providing flexibility in attack. He can stretch defences wide or cut inside to create goal-scoring opportunities. His adaptability would allow Glasner to experiment with different formations and tactics.
For Marseille
The inclusion of a sell-on clause ensures that Olympique de Marseille retains a stake in any future success, such a clause is usually vital for smaller teams to continue making positive moves. The departure of a key attacker would create an opportunity for manager De Zerbi to reshape their squad, which he is currently in the process of after securing the services of ex-Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood to bolster the French club’s attack.
