Liverpool’s late summer pursuit of Ismaila Sarr has always carried the appearance of a transfer that arrived at the wrong moment. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has now provided his version of events, and timing, valuation and Liverpool’s willingness to walk away all appear central to the story.

Speaking to The Athletic , Parish explained why Palace refused to sanction Sarr’s departure despite the player apparently being keen on Anfield.

“It’s unfortunate with Ismaila, but that wasn’t really a situation that was of our doing,” Parish said.

“A club (Liverpool) came in and, with the amount of money they bid, they couldn’t seriously think in that market it was going to get done at that level, and then they didn’t come back in for him.”

That second sentence is particularly revealing.

Liverpool reportedly offered around £50 million for Sarr after discussions over Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh ran into an £80 million valuation. Palace wanted considerably more, with their position eventually reported at around £75 million.

From Parish’s perspective, Liverpool were shopping in a market partly shaped by their own spending.

“If you’re selling players for £90m and then you want to bid us half of that for the replacement, it’s fine, you can do it. I’m not criticising anybody for doing it. But it’s not going to happen,” he said.