Fenerbahce reach agreement to sign Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr
Crystal Palace are facing a major transfer dilemma after winger Ismaila Sarr reportedly agreed terms to join Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce.
The Turkish giants are now pressing the South London club to finalise an agreement for the 28-year-old.
Fenerbahce accelerated their pursuit of the Senegal international after missing out on primary target Rafael Leao.
Italian journalist Marco Conterio claims the transfer is advancing rapidly following the player’s approval.
He is one step away from a move to Fenerbahce, and has already said yes to the Turkish Super Lig giants.
Marco Conterio
A massive blow for Pierre Sage
The potential departure of the former Watford man presents a nightmare scenario for newly appointed Palace manager Pierre Sage.
Sage recently succeeded Oliver Glasner and would be extremely reluctant to lose his most influential attacker ahead of the new campaign.
The lightning-fast forward enjoyed a phenomenal season at Selhurst Park, finishing as the UEFA Conference League’s top scorer with nine goals in 13 appearances.
In total, the winger netted 21 times across 45 matches.
He subsequently became the first Eagles player to breach the 20-goal mark in a single campaign since Glenn Murray in 2013.
Palace hold the negotiating power
Despite the player’s reported willingness to move, chairman Steve Parish remains in a strong negotiating position.
The attacker only arrived from Marseille in a £12.5m deal in August 2024 and still has three years remaining on his current contract.
During his brief but highly successful stint in London, he helped secure an unprecedented treble consisting of the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League.
Palace are expected to demand an astronomical fee to sanction any departure.
The club has already lost standout central defender Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea in a lucrative £52m move.
The necessity to retain their star asset is further amplified by the ongoing struggles of Brennan Johnson, who has failed to impress as a viable alternative on the right flank.