Palace boss makes 'difficult' Sarr Liverpool admission after transfer approach

The new Palace boss has rebuffed claims that Sarr is refusing to train in an attempt to force through a transfer, revealing that the Senegalese is currently sidelined with a groin issue.

Sage has held talks with the winger, who has three years left on his contract, this week and he admits he is sympathetic to his situation.

And while he confirmed Sarr will remain absent for Palace’s home clash with Manchester City on Friday night, he insisted that the lay-off had nothing to do with speculation surrounding the player’s future.

“For the moment, yeah,” Sage said when asked whether he expects Sarr to remain at Palace. “Because when you have three years on the contract, it is not easy to leave.

“Ismaila Sarr is injured. He is in pain with his groin – that’s why you didn’t see him [train] with us today.

“He is in individual training because he is really in pain with his groin. But we’ll prepare him, he needs time.

“I thought it would be quicker, but I am not a doctor. That is why I wait for him and we prepare for him to come back with us. No chance (he plays against City).”

Sage continued: “I understand that for everybody to have this kind of contact is difficult, because you hesitate a lot. But for the moment, he is with us. He is under contract.

“He is injured and maybe you can make a link between his injury and the situation. But for me, he is honest and I have no problem with that. I spoke with him this morning about that, yesterday about that, too. And we just want him on the pitch.

“All the rest is for the other people. Football is like this now, we know when it is the transfer window that there is a lot of noise, a lot of stuff for the player.

“Maybe some of them are not really comfortable with this situation - and their agent, too, their family. That’s why it is not really a good period when you are inside in a club, but you know when it is finished we will only be concerned with our performances. We just have to wait for that.

“It’s always difficult for a player when your name is associated with a club like Liverpool.

“For the moment, the most important thing is to understand the player is not able to play and is in treatment, and what happens with his potential future is really far from me.”