Ismaila Sarr agent hits out after failed Liverpool transfer

Ismaila Sarr's agent has issued a furious statement after the Crystal Palace winger failed to secure a summer move to Liverpool, insisting African players must have a greater voice in decisions over their careers.

Liverpool made Sarr a major target as Andoni Iraola looked to add another winger following the £123million signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.

Palace, however, refused to sanction another major departure and rejected Liverpool's attempts to sign the Senegal international.

Sarr's agent Diomansy Kamara has now publicly criticised the situation, also referencing Lamine Camara's failed £47m Deadline Day move from Monaco to Chelsea.

“The cases of Ismaila Sarr and Lamine Camara must all interrogate us,” Kamara said.

“Our African players deserve respect. The respect of their work. The respect of their career. Respecting their ambitions. The respect of their voices.”

Kamara argued that transfers should not simply be negotiations between clubs over valuations, stressing that the player's own career ambitions must remain central to the process.

“A transfer shouldn't just be a matter of two clubs and numbers,” he added. “Behind every contract, there's a man, a career, dreams and life choices.”

Liverpool had been pushing strongly for Sarr after previously seeing approaches for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh rejected.

Palace were determined to avoid losing another important player following Maxence Lacroix's move to Chelsea this summer.

Liverpool made at least two approaches for Sarr, with an initial £50m offer rejected before Palace also turned down an improved proposal.

Reports before the deadline indicated Sarr wanted the Liverpool move and was pushing to leave Selhurst Park.

The winger has yet to feature in Palace's opening two league matches this season, both defeats, although he has also been dealing with an injury issue.

Pierre Sage had maintained throughout the summer that Palace wanted to retain the attacker, who finished last season as their leading scorer.

Liverpool ultimately ended the window without the additional winger Iraola had been seeking.

Sarr remains a Crystal Palace player and must now reintegrate into Pierre Sage's squad once fully fit after failing to secure his desired move to Anfield.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will have to decide whether to revive their interest in Sarr or pursue another winger when the transfer market reopens.