Ismaila Sarr must digest failed Liverpool move, says Sage

Ismaila Sarr will need time to come to terms with the collapse of his move to Liverpool, according to Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage.

The Senegal winger, Palace's top scorer last season, looked set for a deadline-day switch to Anfield before the deal fell apart. He stays at Selhurst Park instead.

Liverpool had also explored a move for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh but could not agree a fee for either player. That left them turning down an £80m bid from Manchester City for Cody Gakpo, with no replacement signed for the Dutchman.

Sarr, 28, has not played for Palace this season. A groin injury kept him out of the opening defeat at Everton and the 4-1 home defeat by Manchester City, and he will miss Saturday's trip to Fulham as well, where both sides are still chasing their first point of the campaign.

With Sarr's future unsettled, Palace had moved for Lyon winger Malick Fofana and appeared to have got the better of Sunderland in the race for his signature. The 21-year-old Belgian chose Sunderland anyway, in a deadline-day deal reported at £30m.

Sage said of that pursuit: "We gave our best. At the end of the day the player chose his criteria and I wish him and them the best because he's a good guy and a good player."

Sarr's absence gives Sage a selection problem to solve without his leading scorer, at least until the winger works through the disappointment and returns to full fitness.