Crystal Palace have now agreed terms to sign a player who is quicker than Kylian Mbappe.
Dougie Freedman – Director of Football at Selhurst Park – is now starting to make progress in a bid to replace Michael Olise after seeing two proposals rejected.
The Glaswegian first saw a £12.6m offer for Marcus Edwards rejected by Sporting CP – before a bid for Emile Smith Rowe was rebuffed by Arsenal.
Now – however – Crystal Palace have taken a positive step in pursuit of another target…
Crystal Palace agree personal terms with Ismaila Sarr
A story from The Athletic now claims that Crystal Palace have agreed a deal with Ismaila Sarr.
The Senegal international has been a target for the Eagles since 2018 – before his £30m move from Rennes to Watford in August 2019 – and it seems as if Freedman is now close to securing the rapid forward.
It is said that Crystal Palace still need to agree a fee with Marseille for Sarr, who saw his No.23 shirt taken by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on Monday, following the Denmark international’s loan move from Tottenham.
The Athletic believe both sides are currently apart on their valuation of the 26-year-old, who Marseille signed from Watford for £15m in July 2023 and handed a £64,000-a-week contract.
Roberto De Zerbi is happy to sell Sarr after signing Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.
The man from Saint Louis scored five goals and provided six assists in 35 appearances for Marseille last season.
Quicker than Kylian Mbappe
As aforesaid, Sarr is actually faster than Mbappe.
The Crystal Palace target was clocked running at a speed of 21.93mph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which made him the seventh quickest player at the tournament.
Mbappe was eighth behind Sarr, having been clocked at 21.87mph.
That means the Senegalese speedster should fit nicely into Oliver Glasner’s direct style of play.
Sarr’s pace down the flanks should create plenty of opportunities for Joachim Andersen to launch one of his trademark pings into the final third for him to race on to, while the danger his speed poses to opponents may also free up space for the likes of Ebere Eze and Daichi Kamada, as defenders will not want to leave such a quick player unattended.
READ MORE: Player now determined to leave Crystal Palace this summer after miserable 2023/24 campaign
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Crystal Palace and Marseille continue negotiations over a transfer fee.
