Liverpool enquire about Ismaila Sarr as Cody Gakpo weighs City, Spurs and stay

Liverpool have made a formal enquiry to Crystal Palace about winger Ismaila Sarr, though no bid has been submitted, as the club race to strengthen their attack before the summer transfer window closes.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed the approach, describing it as “a live situation” with “big calls” still to be made in the coming days. Liverpool’s need for a right-sided attacker is directly tied to the future of Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, who is weighing up three options: remaining at Anfield, joining Manchester City — whose interest Ornstein described as “genuine” — or moving to Tottenham Hotspur, who have been pursuing him for some time.

Ornstein outlined the logic clearly: if Gakpo stays, Liverpool will likely shelve their search for a wide attacker, as the squad would already carry four wingers. If he departs, the club will move quickly to fill the vacancy, with Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh the primary targets. Liverpool have already had at least two bids for Minteh rejected by Brighton.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola acknowledged the club’s intent without naming specific targets. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Iraola said: “It’s evident that we are trying to improve or try to fill that position because we don’t have the numbers. I hope we can have good news soon but we are still not there.”

The club have already agreed a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, adding further urgency to resolving Gakpo’s situation before the window shuts. Sarr, a Senegal international, joined Crystal Palace last summer after a spell at Marseille and has established himself as one of the more direct wide players in the Premier League.