Ismaila Sarr in Limbo as Clinton Morrison Urges Crystal Palace to Handle Situation Differently
Sarr in limbo as Morrison urges Palace forward to “handle it differently” after failed Liverpool move
Ismaila Sarr has slipped to the fringes at Crystal Palace. A groin problem has kept him out under new boss Pierre Sage, but the injury is only half the story. Bridges have been burned, questions are being asked, and the January window now looms over his season.
When Clinton Morrison looks at the situation, he sees a saga that never needed to spiral like this.
Speaking to GOAL on behalf of Freebets.com, the former Palace striker admitted he has been left confused by the noise around Sarr: “I don't know what's going on because I just thought he genuinely did have an injury. And I think the manager has come out and said he's got an injury. He's training individually. He's not ready to train with the squad.”
Liverpool’s interest changed the mood. Once Anfield calls, players listen. Morrison understands that instinct, but not the way it has played out.
“I get it. Liverpool come in for you, you want to move. But go about it the right way because eventually you will get the move. That's what I've always said to people,” he said. “And I don't know if he's injured or he's not injured. So at the moment, Palace say he's injured. So I believe what Palace say because I know people there. He's injured. He's training individually. So we'll wait and see.”
The doubt from outside is obvious: is Sarr really sidelined, or is this a player sulking after a move collapsed? Morrison pushed back on the more cynical reading.
“If people are thinking he's not training because he wanted to get his move - yeah, he's disappointed he didn't get his move. But Marc Guehi, loads of times he didn't get his move. [Eberechi] Eze didn't get his move. Eventually, you'll get your move. Handle the situation differently.”
For Morrison, the club’s stance is understandable. Palace’s chairman, he insists, is not the villain here.
“And I know one thing, the chairman will let you have that move for sure. But because you come in so late with the bid, the chairman can't afford the top goalscorer to leave the football club and leave the club hanging on by a thread to stay in the Premier League. They've got to look after themselves.”
That timing could yet cost Sarr more than one transfer window. Liverpool are already stocking up in wide areas.
They failed with a £65 million offer for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, who remains their preferred right-sided option, but they did land £123 million Champions League winner Bradley Barcola in the summer and brought in highly rated Spaniard Victor Munoz. Cody Gakpo stayed put. Rio Ngumoha, just 18, is being lined up for more minutes.
With that level of competition, there is no guarantee Liverpool circle back for Sarr in January.
Morrison spelled out the risk in blunt terms: “So if someone wants to move to Liverpool, he can't just sit there and wait because Liverpool might go, ‘well, we're going to get [Yankuba] Minteh’, who is a younger player. His move to Liverpool might not happen. What he should do is get back fit for Palace, score goals and then prove to people. And then in January, if everything's all right, he might get that move.”
The message is clear: stop staring at the door, start playing.
“I know they want a right-sided player. And their number one was Minteh. And Brighton knocked them back. They offered £65 million,” Morrison said. “I know Sarr wants that move there - I get it, it's Liverpool Football Club. Everyone will want to go to Liverpool. But the move's not happened now. And the best thing to do is get your head down, get fit and play a big part in Palace doing well this season.”
Mateta row adds to Selhurst Park tension
Sarr is not the only Palace forward caught in an unwanted storm. Jean-Philippe Mateta, another key attacker, has also found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The France international, who came close to joining AC Milan in January, is now disputing the validity of a 12‑month extension that has been triggered in his contract. For a fanbase already on edge about departures and ambition, it is another flashpoint.
Morrison, though, sounded more baffled than angry.
“I don't get that with JP. And I know him really well. So it's a strange one. I feel like he's being badly advised. It’s as simple as that, he's a good person. I've got a lot of time for JP. And I feel like he's getting badly advised.”
Mateta is currently injured, but expected back within weeks. Morrison is adamant that, once fit, the striker’s commitment on the pitch will not be in doubt.
“But one thing with JP is he's injured at the moment. He should be back in a week or a couple of weeks. When he's back, he'll give his all for that club. As you saw last season, when there was a lot of noise, he'd be leaving, could have gone to AC Milan. Obviously, it didn't happen with the medical. Came back, scored the goal in the Europa Conference League final.”
Two forwards, two contract flashpoints, one uneasy fanbase. Sarr and Mateta have become lightning rods at Selhurst Park, yet Morrison believes their story with Palace is far from over.
“So obviously, there's two players that Palace fans are probably frustrated with at the moment - Sarr and Mateta. But I still think they are two players that will have a big impact for the club when they come back.”
For Palace, the question now is simple: when those two finally return to full fitness and full focus, will they be the ones dragging the club clear of trouble, or the next big sales in a market that never stops knocking?
