Crystal Palace have now agreed to terms with a player who is faster than Kylian Mbappe.
Dougie Freedman, the Director of Football at Selhurst Park, is making strides to replace Michael Olise after having two proposals rejected.
Freedman’s initial £12.6m offer for Marcus Edwards was turned down by Sporting CP, and a bid for Emile Smith Rowe was rebuffed by Arsenal.
However, Crystal Palace has now made progress in their pursuit of another target…
Crystal Palace has agreed personal terms with Ismaila Sarr
According to The Athletic, Crystal Palace has reached a deal with Ismaila Sarr.
The Senegal international has been on the Eagles’ radar since 2018, prior to his £30m move from Rennes to Watford in August 2019. It appears Freedman is now close to securing the rapid forward.
Crystal Palace still needs to agree on 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 reports that the two sides are currently apart on their valuation of the 26-year-old, who Marseille signed from Watford for £15m in July 2023 and offered a £64,000-a-week contract.
Roberto De Zerbi is willing to sell Sarr after signing Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.
Sarr scored five goals and provided six assists in 35 appearances for Marseille last season.
Faster than Kylian Mbappe
As mentioned, Sarr is actually quicker than Mbappe.
The Crystal Palace target was clocked at 21.93 mph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making him the seventh fastest player at the tournament.
Mbappe was eighth, clocked at 21.87 mph.
Sarr’s speed should fit well into Oliver Glasner’s direct style of play.
His pace down the flanks should create plenty of opportunities for Joachim Andersen to launch long passes into the final third for him to chase, while his speed could also free up space for players like Ebere Eze and Daichi Kamada, as defenders will not want to leave such a quick player unattended.
Keep an eye on this situation as Crystal Palace and Marseille continue negotiations over a transfer fee.
