- Ismaila Sarr is a top target for Palace, with Marseille believed to want to sell
- Marseille would reinvest the funds in landing Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah
Crystal Palace have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Marseille’s Senegalese winger, Ismaila Sarr, as its understood the French club are open to a sale, in order to fund their transfer target.
The French side would use funds from the sale to step up their pursuit of Arsenal‘s Eddie Nketiah, after they wrapped up their deal for Tottenham midfielder, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, on Monday.
Sarr has already come tantalisingly to joining Crystal Palace, and its believed head coach, Oliver Glasner, is keen to wrap-up a deal for the 26-year-old forward before the season starts.
Palace’s sporting director, Dougie Freedman, is known to be a fan of Sarr’s, too, with reports saying he’s pursued the player for more than SIX years. Sarr is believed to want to stay in France, but is open to joining a Premier League club again.
The player would add nicely to the Eagles’ attacking line, after winger Michael Olise joined Bayern Munich earlier in the window.
Marseille winger, Ismaila Sarr, could be heading to Selhurst Park if sold this summer
A Sarr sale could mean Marseille land top transfer target, striker Eddie Nketiah (above)
A move to South London wouldn’t be alien to Sarr, either, having already spent four years in England playing for Watford. He scored 34 goals and provided 22 assists in 131 games for the Hornets, between 2019 and 2023.
Marseille, meanwhile, are turning to newly appointed manager, Roberto De Zerbi’s connection with the Premier League, in a bid to bring in top talent for his project at Stade Velodrome.
The club have so far bought Mason Greenwood from Manchester United for £27million, plus £3.2million in add-ons – as well as a significant sell-on clause – and Tottenham midfielder, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg, in a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
Now, Marseille would like Nketiah and Greenwood to play alongside each other in a new-look forward line, as last season’s leading scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang expected to move on this summer.
Former Tottenham midfielder, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg, joined Marseille on a season-long loan
Marseille have signed Mason Greenwood from Manchester United in a deal worth £27million
Nketiah has scored some big goals for Arsenal over the past two seasons – most notably a brace in a 3-2 win over Man United in January 2023. He also netted a hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United last season.
But the 25-year-old is behind Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and possibly even Leandro Trossard on Mikel Arteta’s list of candidates to operate as Arsenal’s central striker.
Still, it’s believed the Gunners are reluctant to sell, and any approach for 25-year-old Londoner may end up taking shape in the form of a loan deal.
