Liverpool are hoping transfer history does not repeat itself after turning their attention to Ismaila Sarr in their ongoing pursuit of a new right-winger. The Reds have already signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but are in the market for a further two attacking recruits before the transfer window closes next week on September 1.
Late interest in wingers
Bradley Barcola remains their primary target, but Liverpool have made checks on a number of players when it comes to their second desired winger. They ended interest in Yan Diomande earlier this summer after learning he favoured a switch to Paris Saint-Germain and that RB Leipzig would not be accepting their £86m offer regardless. Instead, the Ivorian eventually ended up signing for Real Madrid in a deal worth up to £120m.
Since then, they have reportedly enquired into the availability of Endrick from Real Madrid, made checks on Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris Saint-Germain and retained an interest in both Said El Mala of FC Koln and Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille. They have also seen two bids rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion for Yankuba Minteh, with the latest knockback prompting the Reds to switch attention to Sarr.
Familiar situation with Crystal Palace
It has been reported that any deal would be around the £50m mark for the 28-year-old, but the ECHO understands Liverpool’s recruitment team are merely continuing to assess the market as they search for the right blend of wingers to arrive before the September 1 deadline. But with less than a week to go until the transfer window closes, the Reds are running out of time.
And if they indeed pursue a move for Sarr, Anfield bosses will find themselves in a rather familiar situation. It was only a year ago when the Reds were locked in late talks with Crystal Palace over a £35m move for Marc Guehi. The Eagles ultimately pulled the plug on the switch at the 11th hour on transfer deadline day after failing to sign a replacement.
Palace have already rejected a £35m offer for Sarr from Galatasaray earlier this month, while his fellow forward Jean-Philippe Mateta is also attracting interest from a number of clubs before transfer deadline day. Were Liverpool to make a concrete late move for Sarr, they would run the risk of facing a similar outcome to their pursuit of Guehi this late in the window, with matters complicated further by Mateta’s own uncertain future.
Minteh injury concerns
The Reds could still resurrect interest in Minteh if Brighton were to lower their £80m demands, having already rejected offers of £50m and £60m from Liverpool. But the Gambia international is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury suffered in pre-season, and is expected to be ruled out for two to three months.
Again, the Reds should perhaps be wary of their transfer past. They infamously signed Alberto Aquilani in a £20m deal in the summer of 2009 as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, only for the Italian to arrive with an ankle injury of his own. He had to wait until October to make his Liverpool debut and ultimately flopped at Anfield, eventually moving on permanently to Fiorentina in 2012 after seasons on loan at Juventus and AC Milan.
The Reds took a punt on the midfielder, aware that his injury ensured they could sign him from AS Roma for a lower fee. It would appear, 17 years on, that Brighton are not governed by the same logic when it comes to setting their asking-price for Minteh.
It would be a surprise if Liverpool left themselves short in attack following the end of the transfer window as they continue to weigh up their options. But the subjects of their latest enquiries carry with them caveats that should prompt caution as the Reds look to avoid a disappointing end to a summer-long pursuit.
