New Liverpool, Ismaila Sarr update may concern Millwall | OneFootball

Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr may detriment Millwall's hopes of keeping hold of Femi Azeez

Entering the final week of the summer window, Millwall will be delighted with the business they have conducted thus far, having added in areas of weakness and kept hold of their star assets, though Liverpool’s move for Ismaïla Sarr may raise a few concerns around The Den.

Millwall narrowly missed out on an automatic promotion spot last campaign, falling one point short of second-placed Ipswich Town, and losing the subsequent play-off semi-final 2-0 to Hull City, resigning the Lions to another year in the second tier as a result.

Scottish head coach Alex Neil will be keen to right those wrongs from last time around, and with two wins from their opening two Championship games, things couldn’t have begun much better.

On top of adding each of Tairyk Arconte, Jenson Metcalfe, Mathis Servais, Mark Sykes, Elkan Baggott, Danny Batth, Lyndon Dykes, and Jordi Osei-Tutu to the mix this summer, the Lions have crucially, so far, kept hold of Mihailo Ivanovic, Tristan Crama, and Femi Azeez.

However, Liverpool’s move for Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr could spell bad news for the Lions for one key reason.

Liverpool plot Ismaïla Sarr raid as Crystal Palace could target Millwall's Femi Azeez as a replacement

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According to Fabrizio Romano via X, Liverpool is in talks with Palace over a potential deal for Senegalese forward Sarr, with the Italian transfer guru further reporting that the Reds have seen a bid worth £50 million rejected by the Eagles.

Sarr, 28, is among Palace’s most important players, playing a starring role in the club's historic Europa Conference League triumph last season, but has recently been absent from training to try and force through a move away from the club, with Galatasaray also interested.

This will come as a huge blow for Palace, who will struggle to replace Sarr’s output in the event of his departure; should he indeed leave, the Eagles could plot a move for Millwall’s Femi Azeez as an alternative.

Azeez, 25, shone for the Lions in the Championship last season, scoring 11 and grabbing eight assists in 35 league games for the club, proving to be a constant threat on the right flank when cutting in on his preferred left foot, and having attracted interest from at least three Premier League clubs previously, Palace may be tempted to join the race.

Femi Azeez has attracted Premier League interest from Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, and Ipswich Town previously

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Any pursuit Palace have on Azeez won’t be straightforward, with Premier League trio Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, and Ipswich Town having each registered an interest in the Nigerian international previously.

Ipswich had bids for the former Reading winger knocked back by Millwall as recently as January, which would have represented a record sale for the Lions, as Hull have been reported to have been keen, whilst Brighton have touted Azeez as a potential successor to Amario Cozier-Duberry should he depart the Seagulls.

Millwall have done well to retain Azeez’s services up until this point, and this late on in the window, the promotion-hopefuls will have little intent on parting ways with their star asset this summer, though Palace could tempt them into a sale with the right bid.

Football League World's Millwall fan pundit, Lucas Ball, has previously demanded an eight-figure fee to part ways with Azeez, as the Lions' asking price at this stage remains ambiguous.

Why Crystal Palace may target Millwall’s Femi Azeez if Ismaïla Sarr joins Liverpool

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Palace are entering a new era under Pierre Sage following the departure of Oliver Glasner, and having lost Maxence Lacroix and Brennan Johnson this summer, there is still the possibility that Daniel Muñoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta could both leave before the deadline alongside Sarr.

The Eagles have made a habit over the years of signing some of the best talent the Championship has to offer, with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, and Adam Wharton arriving from the second tier in recent times before excelling at Selhurst Park and beyond.

Azeez falls exactly into this category, and whilst best off the right, he is more than capable of operating in a more central position if required, and would slot into one of Palace’s number ten roles with ease.

The Eagles previously bought Romain Esse from Millwall back in January 2025 for a potential £14.5 million, and whilst that move hasn’t exactly worked out as hoped, there are few reasons to believe that Azeez would face similar struggles.

The 25-year-old developed exponentially since joining Millwall, and is more than capable at this stage of making the jump to the Premier League.

Whilst not a like-for-like replacement for Sarr, Azeez would add a different dynamic to the Eagles attack, and given Palace’s transfer record, it would be a surprise to nobody to see the South London outfit tempted to bring the Nigerian across the capital to Selhurst Park before the deadline.

Alex Neil will have few intentions of parting ways with Femi Azeez this summer

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Having kept hold of him for this long, Neil will be confident that Azeez, who joined the club two years ago for around just £1 million, will remain a Millwall player beyond the deadline, having evaded interest from the likes of Ipswich and Hull previously.

Whilst it would be no surprise to see Premier League clubs revisit a move for the 25-year-old before the end of the window, it will likely take a lucrative fee to lure him away at this stage.

Whether any top-flight sides, including Palace, would be willing to meet Millwall’s demands remains to be seen, as the Lions will be prepared for any offers coming their way in the final stages of the summer.