Liverpool will consider a late move for Crystal Palace forward Ismaïla Sarr alongside their pursuit of Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain.
Sarr, 28, has emerged as a possible target as Liverpool’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Richard Hughes, undergo due diligence on wide attackers on the market.
They will attempt to close a deal for France forward Barcola, 23, in the final days of the summer transfer window and have also assessed a second wide-attacker signing amid interest in Cody Gakpo.
Palace are understood to be reluctant to sell Sarr without a suitable replacement being ready to come in, which may complicate a potential move away from Selhurst Park. But the Senegal international also missed the Premier League opener against Everton at the weekend, and the player is attracting interest from Galatasaray in Turkey.
Liverpool have made checks on Sarr’s situation, having previously made a bid for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, who is expected to cost upward of £70m and is also injured for two months.
Sarr would be expected to play immediately despite being sidelined for the weekend defeat at Everton. Palace head coach Pierre Sage admitted players may have their head turned when clubs move for them.
“To have this kind of contact is difficult as you hesitate a lot but he is with us and he is under contract, he is injured,” Sage said. “Maybe you can link the injury with the situation but for me he is also honest and I have no problem with that.”
Sarr is well known to Liverpool after he scored four goals against them last season during three victories in the first half.
Palace signed Dwight McNeil, also a wide forward, in the summer from Everton and also have Evann Guessand and Anan Khalaili as wide options, although they would want a replacement for Sarr before they allowed him to leave. They pulled the plug on Marc Guéhi’s move to Anfield on deadline day last year when they did not have a replacement.
It will be down to Liverpool to test Palace’s resolve with a bid between £40m and £50m should they go ahead with a move for Sarr, who has three years left on his contract.