Ismaïla Sarr's agent, Diomansy Kamara, has criticised the treatment of African footballers in the transfer market after two deals involving Senegalese players collapsed on deadline day. Crystal Palace rejected a Liverpool bid for Sarr, insisting their top scorer was not for sale, while Monaco pulled out of a £47m move that would have sent Lamine Camara to Chelsea, prompting Kamara to argue that African players are too often treated as "a commodity" rather than having their voices respected.

Sarr, 28, missed Palace's opening two league matches after reportedly picking up an injury and had removed references to the club from his social media, suggesting frustration at being kept. Camara's move broke down after Monaco backtracked on a club-to-club agreement, with sporting director Thiago Scuro explaining the club reinstated Folarin Balogun's £40m switch to Everton once it appeared back on, leaving Chelsea angered and Everton short of recognised strikers. Kamara, a former Senegal international who played for Portsmouth, West Brom and Fulham, said players "must be able to be heard and respected" in decisions over their futures.