Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr has gone AWOL in an attempt to push through a move to Galatasaray. The 28-year-old has not trained with the Crystal Palace squad for the past two days, and has informed the club that he does not wish to play in the Premier League opener on Saturday.
What happened?
Ismaila Sarr's decision to go AWOL comes after he reportedly made it clear to the Crystal Palace management that he wanted to leave the club. The player has a personal agreement in place with Galatasaray, and the Super Lig club is planning to return with a more substantial bid to convince Crystal Palace into a sale.
Why it matters for Crystal Palace
The situation is a blow to Crystal Palace, who are preparing for the new season after finishing 13th in the Premier League with 42 points, 11 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses from 31 games, and recent form of WDWLW. The team is also 28 points behind leaders Arsenal.
What comes next?
If Ismaila Sarr hasn't trained for two days and is missing from the squad for the Everton game, it points to matters heading in one direction before the end of the transfer window in just under two weeks. The Eagles' next fixture is vs Bournemouth on 2027-02-20, and the team will be looking to bounce back from this setback. With the transfer window still open, Crystal Palace fans will be keeping a close eye on the situation, and the team's league standing, with 35 goals scored and 36 conceded so far, will be a key factor in their decision-making.
