Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr missed training as he continues to push for a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Ismaila Sarr has told Crystal Palace he wants to join Galatasaray, and he has not trained with the Premier League club for the last two days, as per Ali Naci Kucuk via Haber Sari Kirmizi.
The 28-year-old has informed the club that he does not want to feature in their away match against Everton on Saturday afternoon. The move has put the Eagles under immense pressure, and it offers Galatasaray a potential route to bringing Sarr to Istanbul.
Sarr was one of the key figures behind Palace’s success in 2025/26, emerging as one of their most important attacking players. He finished as their leading scorer in the UEFA Conference League with nine goals and registered 23 goal contributions across all competitions.
What Sarr would bring to Galatasaray?
The Senegalese winger’s performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award in Europe’s third-tier competition. His versatility, primarily as a right winger but comfortable from either flank or as a second striker, positions him as a valuable addition to Okan Buruk’s Galatasaray squad, where Yunus Akgun, Leroy Sane, and Baris Alper Yilmaz already offer considerable quality in wide areas.
He could not only cover for the trio, but also rival them for a place in the starting XI. Additionally, Galatasaray are in a spot of bother over Yilmaz’s long-term future amid his links with Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. The 28-year-old’s experience at the highest level could bring a lot to the table.
His 23 goal contributions in 2025/26 and four-goal World Cup showing for Senegal have elevated his profile and courted interest from several high-profile clubs, making him a proven commodity for a club like Galatasaray seeking to strengthen their European competition credentials.
For Crystal Palace, the situation is now urgent. Sarr remains under contract until 2029, but his decision to miss training forces the club to manage his immediate absence while negotiating with Galatasaray. The 2025/26 Turkish Super Lig champions will hope his public stance accelerates a deal.
While Sarr’s actions have certainly handed the Turkish giants a massive boost, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles react to it. They might have to sanction his departure despite initial reluctance. However, they won’t let him leave on the cheap with years left on his deal.