Crystal Palace legend Clinton Morrison says he is baffled by the situations involving Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta at Selhurst Park, telling GOAL that the latter has been “badly advised”, while insisting the former must secure any move to Liverpool in the “right way”. The two established Premier League performers have both been trying to edge their way towards the exit at Palace.

Sarr is reported to have refused to train amid links with Liverpool.

Sarr, who had previously impressed at Watford, returned to English football in 2024 after spending a season on loan at Marseille. He scored 21 goals in all competitions last season as Palace added the Conference League trophy to their FA Cup and Community Shield honours.

The 28-year-old winger found the net for Senegal at the 2026 World Cup, and his value rose sharply to the point where talk emerged of a big-money switch to Anfield. Sarr was keen on making that move and reportedly refused to train at one point while waiting for Palace to accept an offer. In the end, no agreement was reached.

How will the Sarr situation at Selhurst Park unfold?

Sarr has yet to feature under new manager Pierre Sage, with a groin issue keeping him sidelined, while plenty of damage appears to have been done in the background. The question now is whether he is still clinging to hope that another club will come in for him during the January window.

When that was put to Morrison, the former Eagles striker told GOAL of the unfortunate episode: “I don't know what's going on because I just thought he genuinely did have an injury. And I think the manager has come out and said he's got an injury. He's training individually. He's not ready to train with the squad.

“I get it. Liverpool come in for you, you want to move. But go about it the right way because eventually you will get the move. That's what I've always said to people. And I don't know if he's injured or he's not injured. So at the moment, Palace say he's injured. So I believe what Palace say because I know people there. He's injured. He's training individually. So we'll wait and see.

“If people are thinking he's not training because he wanted to get his move - yeah, he's disappointed he didn't get his move. But Marc Guehi, loads of times he didn't get his move. [Eberechi] Eze didn't get his move. Eventually, you'll get your move. Handle the situation differently.

“And I know one thing, the chairman will let you have that move for sure. But because you come in so late with the bid, the chairman can't afford the top goalscorer to leave the football club and leave the club hanging on by a thread to stay in the Premier League. They've got to look after themselves.

“So if someone wants to move to Liverpool, he can't just sit there and wait because Liverpool might go, ‘well, we're going to get [Yankuba] Minteh’, who is a younger player. His move to Liverpool might not happen. What he should do is get back fit for Palace, score goals and then prove to people. And then in January, if everything's all right, he might get that move.”

Should Liverpool still consider a move for Sarr in the January window?

Liverpool, who are still interested in Brighton winger Minteh, brought in £123 million ($167m) Champions League winner Bradley Barcola during the summer, along with highly rated Spaniard Victor Munoz. They also kept hold of Cody Gakpo and are hoping to hand regular opportunities to 18-year-old wonderkid Rio Ngumoha.

With all of that in mind, will Sarr still be on their radar by the turn of the year? Morrison added: “I know they want a right-sided player. And their number one was Minteh. And Brighton knocked them back. They offered £65 million.

“I know Sarr wants that move there - I get it, it's Liverpool Football Club. Everyone will want to go to Liverpool. But the move's not happened now. And the best thing to do is get your head down, get fit and play a big part in Palace doing well this season.”

Mateta has claimed that the final year of his contract is invalid.

Another high-profile Palace player to attract unwanted attention is powerful striker Mateta. The France international, who came close to joining Serie A giants AC Milan in January, has stated that the 12-month extension activated in his contract is invalid.

Speaking about that rather strange development, Morrison said: “I don't get that with JP. And I know him really well. So it's a strange one. I feel like he's being badly advised. It’s as simple as that, he's a good person. I've got a lot of time for JP. And I feel like he's getting badly advised.

“But one thing with JP is he's injured at the moment. He should be back in a week or a couple of weeks. When he's back, he'll give his all for that club. As you saw last season, when there was a lot of noise, he'd be leaving, could have gone to AC Milan. Obviously, it didn't happen with the medical. Came back, scored the goal in the Europa Conference League final.

“So obviously, there's two players that Palace fans are probably frustrated with at the moment - Sarr and Mateta. But I still think they are two players that will have a big impact for the club when they come back.”

Mateta and Sarr are both open to new challenges.

Mateta has scored 62 goals in 203 appearances for Palace since joining the club in January 2021. He is now 29 and is likely to feel he still has one major transfer - and one fresh challenge - left in his career.

The same may also apply to Sarr, who needs to make the most of his current purple patch, but the Eagles will not give in to pressure if the terms being offered do not suit them. It remains to be seen what the 2027 transfer market will bring.