Ismaila Sarr’s agent has questioned whether African players are shown sufficient respect after Liverpool failed with a deadline-day move for the Crystal Palace winger.
Diomansy Kamara published an impassioned statement following a turbulent conclusion to the transfer window for two of his clients.
Liverpool held several rounds of discussions over a possible deal for Sarr after strengthening their attack with Victor Munoz and reaching a huge £123million agreement for Bradley Barcola.
The Reds also explored a move for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh as they attempted to make a third attacking addition before the deadline.
Liverpool are believed to have approached Palace with a £40m proposal for Sarr.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that a subsequent offer worth £50m had been submitted for the Senegal international, although that version of events was disputed by other sources.
Palace ultimately made it clear that they would not sanction Sarr’s departure so late in the window and placed a valuation of more than £50m on the 28-year-old.
That stance forced Liverpool to abandon negotiations and left Sarr at Selhurst Park despite the interest from the Premier League champions.
Ismaila Sarr’s agent has questioned whether African players are shown sufficient respect after Liverpool failed with a deadline-day move for the Crystal Palace winger
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GETTY
Kamara was also involved in Lamine Camara’s proposed £47m transfer from Monaco to Chelsea, which sensationally collapsed shortly after the deadline.
Monaco withdrew from the agreement despite Chelsea believing that the midfielder had been poised to travel to London and sign a six-year contract.
Following the two failed moves, Kamara called for players to be given a more meaningful voice when clubs negotiate their futures.
“The cases of Ismaïla Sarr and Lamine Camara must all interrogate us,” he wrote on social media.
Ismaila Sarr had been hoping to leave Crystal Palace for Liverpool
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REUTERS“We have to get out of this logic where the African player can sometimes give the feeling that he is just a commodity: you buy it, you set its price, you negotiate its future and, too often, your will seems to go to the background.
“Our African players deserve respect. The respect of their work. The respect of their career. Respecting their ambitions. The respect of their voices.”
The former West Ham and Fulham striker acknowledged that clubs retain considerable control because players remain under contract.
However, he argued that negotiations should not be reduced to transfer fees and agreements between executives.
“A transfer shouldn’t just be a matter of two clubs and numbers,” Kamara continued.
“Behind every contract, there’s a man, a career, dreams and life choices.
“The fact that clubs can sometimes have the final word is a reality of professional football.
“But one question remains: what about the career and the will of the player? The player must be able to be heard and respected in the decisions that determine his future.”
Lamine Camara will be staying at Monaco after his move to Chelsea fell through | GETTY
Liverpool had also discussed Ibrahim Mbaye during their talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Barcola.
However, they declined to pursue the teenager, allowing Aston Villa to complete a deal worth approximately £47m instead.
Sarr consequently remained at Palace as the deadline passed, but Kamara’s forceful intervention ensured the fallout from Liverpool’s failed pursuit continued beyond the closure of the window.
“Let’s never forget what’s important,” he concluded. “Behind every success, it’s the players who write history first.”
Manchester United and Galatasaray also expressed interest in Sarr, who deleted all Palace-related pictures on his Instagram profile as he looked to make a summer transfer a reality.
But United did not advance their interest, while Galatasaray’s offers fell well short of £50m.
Liverpool, meanwhile, also missed out on Minteh. They had verbal offers worth £50m and £60m rejected by Brighton.
Andoni Iraola’s side were considering making an improved bid worth £65-70m, only to be put off when Brighton quoted them £80m.
