Ismaila Sarr’s asking price has made it clear what Liverpool need to do on transfer deadline day
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Liverpool’s attempts to add more pace and goals from their wings looks set to run into the final day of the summer transfer window.The Reds announced the addition of Bradley Barcola before Tuesday’s deadline, but they are continuing to try and add one – or even two – more before the market closes.Ismaila Sarr looks like the favourite to join, but after Crystal Palace reportedly quoted Liverpool an asking price of £75m, the Reds must end their pursuit and change direction. The Frenchman has joined in a whopping £123m move from PSG Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC Liverpool should keep Cody Gakpo and reassess in 2027Even with the arrival of Barcola in mind, Liverpool’s summer window has been a poor one.Heading into the off-season, the Reds had looked like they really needed a new right-back and a new central midfielder, along with some more options in attack.Though Barcola and Victor Munoz offer them the latter, they are arguably not enough, hence why Sarr, Yankuba Minteh and other players continue to be of interest.
When you are being quoted such high prices for players like Sarr, you have to accept defeat.READ MORE: Liverpool’s attacking options with Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr should make fans pray that both joinLiverpool have not done what they no doubt wanted to when the market opened, but there comes a point where you have to draw the line, hold what you have and accept that you will simply have to reassess at a later date.Liverpool employ Cody Gakpo, meaning that they do still have a very serviceable, versatile forward option on their books. If they sign a new one, Gakpo will go, but that does not have to be inevitable.Gakpo is arguably a better option than Sarr regardless, and with the Reds having agreed an £85m fee with Manchester City, what is the use in spending most of that on the Senegalese, or Minteh who is currently injured and scored three goals last season.Instead, Liverpool must accept that they have failed in their remit this summer and simply keep hold of Gakpo, before reassessing in January or next summer.Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty ImagesThe Reds are stronger for having Barcola in, and the Dutchman may be able to find his best form while rotating with an elite first-choice option, as he did while sharing duties with Luis Diaz in 2024/25.
The market may have better players available in 2027, and Liverpool may have enough until then.Gakpo has also started the season in really good form, has had a decent pre-season and knows the expectations and culture at Liverpool. Having played only 77 minutes since Senegal’s World Cup ended on July 1st, Sarr does not tick any of those boxes.There is obviously a chance, maybe even a likelihood, that Liverpool have other, cheaper targets that they can look towards on deadline day.