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Liverpool lodge £50m bid for Ismaila Sarr as PSG prepare for Bradley Barcola exit

Liverpool have made a formal £50m offer to Crystal Palace for winger Ismaila Sarr, while PSG insiders now expect Bradley Barcola to leave Paris this summer. Arsenal remain in the race for Julián Álvarez and Manchester City have completed two major deals in a frantic day of transfer activity.

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Ismaila Sarr battles for the ball with Milos Kerkez during the Carabao Cup match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Ismaila Sarr battles for the ball with Milos Kerkez during the Carabao Cup match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Liverpool have stepped up their search for a wide attacker by tabling a £50m bid for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr. The offer comes just hours after talks over Brighton's Yankuba Minteh stalled due to a gap in valuation between the clubs. At the same time, PSG are increasingly resigned to losing Bradley Barcola this summer, setting up a chain of late-window moves across the Premier League.

  • Liverpool submit a £50m offer to Crystal Palace for Ismaila Sarr after the Minteh route collapsed.
  • PSG insiders now expect Bradley Barcola to leave the French champions this summer.
  • Arsenal keep the Julián Álvarez deal alive as the forward warms to a London move.
  • Manchester City seal a €100m swoop for Ayyoub Bouaddi and sell Savio to Tottenham for £85m.
  • Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez miss out for Aston Villa amid strong exit speculation.

Liverpool turn to Ismaila Sarr after Minteh talks break down

Liverpool's recruitment team have spent weeks scouring the market for a wide forward capable of raising the level of competition in the squad. Talks with Brighton over Yankuba Minteh failed to produce an agreement because the two clubs remained too far apart on price, and that obstacle has pushed the Reds towards Selhurst Park.

Sarr, a Senegal international, has built a reputation for being particularly dangerous against Liverpool: his scoring record against the Anfield club stands out and has made him a recurring headache for their defence. The player is keen on the move and was the subject of interest from Galatasaray earlier in the window, with Palace having already rejected two bids before Liverpool formalised theirs.

PSG prepare for Bradley Barcola departure

In Paris, the mood has shifted noticeably over recent days. PSG insiders are now working on the assumption that Bradley Barcola will not be wearing the French champions' shirt next season. The winger has held positive talks with Liverpool, who lead the chase for his signature.

Losing Barcola, one of the most highly rated attacking talents in French football, would force PSG to reorganise their forward line in the final stretch of the window. Liverpool's persistence in targeting wide players suggests they are determined not to rely on a single deal and are managing multiple options to avoid being left empty-handed.

Arsenal push for Julián Álvarez to strengthen their attack

Arsenal want to make a statement before the deadline and have identified Julián Álvarez as their primary target to bolster the forward line. The Atlético Madrid striker initially favoured a switch to Barcelona, but the London option has gained traction and the player is now open to hearing what the Gunners have to offer.

Mikel Arteta's side are defending their Premier League title and believe a signing of this calibre would provide a significant upgrade to their attacking rotation. The deal is not straightforward because Atlético have no urgent need to sell, but the player's willingness to move could prove decisive in unlocking a negotiation that promises to go down to the wire.

Manchester City complete two major deals and weigh up more

Manchester City have been anything but quiet. The club has sealed the signing of Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for €100m while simultaneously selling Savio to Tottenham in a deal worth £85m. Two heavyweight moves that underline City's intent to refresh their midfield without sacrificing income from player sales.

But the ambition does not end there. City remain interested in Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and could reignite a move for Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, which would rank as the biggest transfer of the summer if completed. The mere possibility of a deal of that magnitude going through in the coming days is keeping much of the Premier League on edge.

Aston Villa, Newcastle and other fronts on deadline's edge

The absence of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez from Aston Villa's matchday squad has set alarm bells ringing. Watkins, in particular, is understood to be very close to accepting an offer from Saudi side Al-Hilal, while the Argentine goalkeeper is also weighing up exits. Villa could face a turbulent end to the window if both departures are confirmed.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are preparing one final push for Matias Fernandez-Pardo. The Magpies will table a last offer of £51m including bonuses to convince Lille to sell, after their initial £35m proposal was deemed insufficient. The French club are in no rush to part with the player, but the improved figure could come close to meeting their demands.

Done deals, loans and other moves across the leagues

Crystal Palace have confirmed the arrival of Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on a season-long loan. The French centre-back had been training away from the first-team group after spending last season at West Ham and was looking for regular minutes. Selhurst Park offers him an immediate starting role.

Brentford have also made their move, agreeing a deal with West Ham for El Hadji Malick Diouf, the Senegal defender who was relegated with the Hammers last term. The Bees will pay an initial £35m plus £5m in add-ons. Elsewhere, Hull City have struck a deal to sign Ilyas Ansah from Union Berlin for a package in excess of €20m.

On the academy front, Newcastle have brought Paul Dummett into their revamped loans department following Shola Ameobi's departure. The club plans to send several young players out for first-team experience, including Leo Shahar, Sean Neave, Park Seung-soo and Miodrag Pivas.

Manchester United monitor defensive targets as rebuild continues

Manchester United, having already invested £148m in their midfield rebuild with the signing of Carlos Baleba, have shifted their focus to the left-back position. Alejandro Balde of Barcelona is reportedly keen to leave the Camp Nou, and the Premier League club are exploring a loan move for the full-back.

In parallel, the Red Devils are keeping close tabs on Finn Jeltsch, a 20-year-old centre-back at Stuttgart. The club has been scouting the young German for months and is weighing up whether to make official contact. The plan is to future-proof a position they want to strengthen for the long term.

Frequently asked questions

How much have Liverpool bid for Ismaila Sarr?

Liverpool have submitted a £50m offer to Crystal Palace for the Senegal international. The bid comes after talks over Brighton's Yankuba Minteh broke down due to a gap in valuation between the clubs.

What is happening with Bradley Barcola at PSG?

PSG insiders now expect Barcola to leave the French champions this summer. Liverpool are among the leading suitors and have held positive talks with the club over a potential transfer for the winger.

Why were Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez absent for Aston Villa?

Both players were left out of the matchday squad amid strong exit speculation. Watkins appears very close to joining Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, while Martinez is also considering a move away from Villa Park before the deadline.

Based on reporting by The Independent.