Crystal Palace have already lost several familiar faces during a summer of major change at Selhurst Park.
Pierre Sage has inherited a squad which won the Conference League last season, but the Frenchman has also had to watch one of its most important defenders leave.
Maxence Lacroix completed a £52 million move to Chelsea at the end of July, and his departure came only six months after former captain Marc Guéhi joined Man City, forcing Palace to rebuild the heart of their defence.
Nathaniel Clyne has also left following the expiry of his contract. The academy graduate spent two separate spells with the Eagles and was one of the longest serving players in the first team group.
Brennan Johnson’s stay in south London proved much shorter.
Palace only bought the winger from Tottenham in January, but he was sent to Everton earlier this month as part of the deal which brought Dwight McNeil in the opposite direction.
Those departures have been accompanied by uncertainty around other senior players.
Daniel Muñoz has attracted enquiries from Everton, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, and Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra has reported that Palace would consider selling the right wing back for a fee of around £25 million.
Adam Wharton has also been wanted by Man City as they reshape their midfield. Palace rejected City’s approach and have made it clear that the England international is not available, while Wharton has indicated that he expects to stay.
That position shows Palace are prepared to resist interest when they regard a player as central to Sage’s plans, and they may now need to take the same approach with another of their leading attackers.
Crystal Palace winger Ismaïla Sarr agrees four-year contract to join Galatasaray
Ismaïla Sarr was one of the standout figures in last season’s European success.
The Senegal international scored nine goals in 13 Conference League appearances and finished as the competition’s leading scorer, but Nabil Djellit has now reported that Galatasaray have reached an agreement with Sarr and his representatives over a four-year contract.
The Turkish champions can offer Sarr Champions League football and the winger is said to have given his approval to the move.
Palace have already turned down Galatasaray’s opening proposal and remain in control because Sarr is contracted until 2029.
However, Djellit claims the Istanbul club intend to return with an improved offer in an attempt to change Palace’s position.
Fabrizio Romano previously reported that Galatasaray had submitted a formal bid, but also stressed that Palace continue to regard Sarr as an important member of the squad.
The Eagles therefore face a difficult call.
They have added McNeil, Oscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Zavier Gozo this summer, but allowing another established starter to leave would create a fresh hole just before the Premier League season.
Sarr supplies pace, direct running and a threat in behind, while his exceptional goalscoring record last term underlined his importance in the final third.
Personal terms may be in place, but Galatasaray must still satisfy Palace.
After already losing Lacroix, Johnson and Clyne, the Selhurst Park hierarchy are under no obligation to make Sarr the next departure.
