Crystal Palace have signed Ismaila Sarr from Marseille for a fee of €15million (£12.6m; $16.3m) on a five-year contract.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League moves in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all deals will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this transfer.
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Tactical fit — 59/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Palace’s acquisition of Sarr raises some interesting tactical questions for manager Oliver Glasner.
Sarr will be tasked with replacing Michael Olise, who was sold to Bayern Munich for around £50million at the start of July, on the right wing.
The 26-year-old Senegal international has shown potential with his dribbling at pace and acceleration, aspects of his game he shares with Olise. However, Sarr is right-footed and does his best work out wide — in contrast to Olise, who preferred to cut inside on his favoured left foot — and is simply not the same threat to score from distance.
The difference in productivity is stark as well.
Olise recorded 10 goals and six assists in 19 Premier League matches last season compared to Sarr’s three and four in the same two categories in 23 appearances in Ligue 1, the top division of French club football.
Sarr often struggled to play to his strengths in that campaign. His 2.8 take-on attempts per 90 minutes in the league and 31 per cent success rate at them were his lowest in seven years across Ligue 1, the Championship and Premier League with Rennes (another French side), Watford and Marseille. Sarr attempted 31.6 carries per 90, the highest in that same seven-season span, but managed just 3.04 progressive carries, his second-lowest rate.
When it all worked, though, Sarr was impressive. His 2.6 fouls won placed him among the top nine per cent of wingers in Ligue 1 last season, while his ability to race past defenders created openings for team-mates, as in this clip below against Ajax in the Europa League last November, where he skips by two opponents but is let down by his final pass.
Apart from dribbling, Sarr has often been a crossing threat in previous years and averaged 2.8 of them per 90 in Ligue 1 last season. However, only 27 per cent of these were rated as accurate and only 0.3 were into the opposition penalty area.
Sarr’s general passing figures have been middling; last season, he completed 76 per cent overall despite 56 per cent of his 30 attempts per 90 being short balls.
When he was able to look up on time following a dribble to try to find a team-mate, it could lead to great chances, such as this Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal against Montpellier in Ligue 1 in February.
There are other positives too, particularly defensively.
Sarr’s 1.1 dribblers tackled per 90 last season was his third-highest rate in the past seven seasons, while his 0.8 interceptions, 3.2 aerial duels attempted and 41 per cent aerial duel success rate were all the highest in the same span.
Olise was not renowned for his defensive abilities, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta doing more of the work when Palace didn’t have the ball. Sarr’s arrival could allow for a more even split of the out-of-possession duties, while he is also versatile enough to play across the front line.
Something often held against Sarr is his Premier League record — 10 goals and six assists in 50 appearances, but both his seasons in the English top flight (2019-20 and 2021-22) ended with Watford being relegated. With Glasner’s arrival in February revitalising Palace’s attack, there should be optimism around Sarr’s prospects at Selhurst Park.
If he can stay fit, Sarr could prove to be a decent signing for Palace. However, some tactical adjustments will be required for them to get the best out of him.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Season rating: 61/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
Sarr endured a mixed season with Marseille, after arriving from Watford last July.
The 64-cap Senegal international began well with assists in his first match back in Ligue 1, jumping off the bench to play a vital role in Vitinha’s 73rd-minute winner in a 2-1 defeat of visitors Reims in the league opener, and again a few days later for Aubameyang to level on aggregate in a Champions League third qualifying round second leg at home to Panathinaikos of Greece (Marseille would eventually lose that one on penalties).
A hamstring injury in September then halted his progress as he missed league games against Toulouse and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Marseille’s Europa League group-stage opener against Ajax. Upon returning, he endured a barren run, scoring just twice in his next 15 club matches before departing again on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Sarr looked sharper after that tournament, with three assists in the league in two games in late February and early March, but another hamstring injury forced him to miss both legs of their Europa League quarter-final against Benfica in April as well as four more Ligue 1 matches.
Overall, Sarr recorded five goals and six assists in 35 matches for Marseille across three competitions. He showed flashes of brilliance, but the familiar spectre of injuries hampered his season yet again.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Gaming rating: 69/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
Sarr’s years of showing promise but never quite delivering consistency show in his current ability score — he is ranked as a decent Premier League player by Football Manager.
Using the game’s data, compiled by an extensive scouting network used by some professional clubs, Sarr comes in at 131 which, for context, is a rating he shares with Carlos Vinicius, the striker Fulham loaned to Turkey’s Galatasaray for the second half of last season, and Bournemouth’s versatile forward Antoine Semenyo. A Palace comparison would be their No 2 striker Odsonne Edouard, whose current ability rating is 135.
There is scope for Sarr to improve, though.
His potential ability comes in at 145, which is on par with the current ability of Leon Bailey, the Aston Villa winger, and Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison. Achieving those heights would make Sarr an effective Premier League player. Having turned 26 in February, he will want to fulfil that potential sooner rather than later, though.
Peter Rutzler
Financial value rating: 63/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 17/25
It was a reported fee of around £30million that first brought Sarr to the Premier League from Rennes five years ago, so this return has a cut-price feel. He rarely came close to justifying that outlay in a Watford shirt but Palace will believe the £12.6m they have paid is more in line with his abilities. Other wingers have moved for much more money this summer.
Squad cost — 20/25
Palace have cash on the hip after the Olise deal and a need for reinforcements in wide attacking areas. Sarr addresses that and leaves plenty available for further recruitment to suit Glasner’s needs in his first window as the manager at Selhurst Park.
Contract sensibility — 15/25
A five-year deal has been agreed with Sarr and, in truth, he would have been unlikely to move in a second straight summer window for anything shorter. He is still only 26 and theoretically entering his peak years. Palace will back themselves to get the best out of Sarr in a deal running until 2029.
Resale value — 11/25
Watford had their fingers burned on this guy but there is less danger of Palace suffering the same fate. Sarr’s value increased during his 12 months at Marseille but much of that was down to a previous contract running down. Put this one down as a steady if unspectacular future financial investment.
Philip Buckingham
Risk or reward? 59/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Sarr is a familiar name to English football audiences after his four years at Watford. Yet his time at Vicarage Road left a sense of unfulfillment. He was a player capable of brilliance but also could drift out of games. Watford were hardly a stable club in those seasons, getting relegated twice and promoted once, so there is mitigation. But it adds to the risk element of this deal.
His year with Marseille has not radically changed perceptions. It was not the easiest season, as they finished outside Ligue 1’s European places, eighth in an 18-team competition. Managerial changes (three different coaches in one year — four if you include an interim appointment) will have had an impact. Still, that return of five goals and six assists from 35 appearances is pretty good, in the context.
There have been some repetitive knocks — mainly the muscle injuries mentioned above — during his career. Lengthy layoffs have been rarer, but it all mirrors his struggle for consistency.
Sarr remains a player with potential though, and he’s at an age where his prime years are imminent.
Palace were in the market for creative talent too following the departure of Olise, so there should be space for him to make a mark. Sarr is a talented player, so if he can find a stable environment and a system he fits into in south London, maybe Palace can get the best out of him.
Peter Rutzler
Overall rating: 311/500
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
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