Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has indicated that winger Ismaila Sarr needs time to recover from the emotional and physical toll of a failed transfer, which included intense interest from Liverpool.
Sarr, who was a key player for Palace last season, scoring 21 goals in 45 appearances, reportedly sought to force a move away from the club during the recent transfer window. Clubs from Turkey and Saudi Arabia also expressed interest, but Palace maintained that the player was not for sale.
Following the club's stance, Sarr reportedly expressed his frustration by removing all references to Crystal Palace from his social media accounts. The 28-year-old has been sidelined with a groin injury since the beginning of the season and will miss the upcoming match at Fulham.
Sage expressed hope that Sarr will be available for selection again from the following week. "He has to digest because it's a dream for a lot of players to play with this kind of club," Sage said when asked about the possibility of Sarr leaving for clubs in Turkey or Saudi Arabia, whose transfer windows remain open. "He had a good opportunity but it didn’t work."
To regain interest from other clubs, Sage emphasized the need for Sarr to perform well for Crystal Palace. "If he wants the interest to continue, he has to give a good season with us, perform with us and score a lot of goals as he did last year. But we know that he needs time."
Diomansy Kamara, who represents Sarr, released a statement on Wednesday criticizing Crystal Palace for allegedly not respecting the wishes of an African player. Sage countered these claims, stating, "I don't really agree with this position. The club and the people here are respectful. We respect a lot of things and we just want the best for our club and our players."