Malang Sarr has endured a frustrating time at Chelsea, with just 21 appearances made across all competitions for the Blues in the 2021/22 season. He was subsequently loaned out to AS Monaco last campaign, and only played 17 matches, after injuries impacted his game time after January.
Sarr now looks to be heading out of Stamford Bridge, with links to Turkish clubs emerging after a failed transfer to the Saudi Pro League last week.
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Malang Sarr transfer fee – How much will he go for?
No Malang Sarr transfer fee was specifically mentioned when he was linked to Al Nassr, just one day before the Saudi Arabian transfer window slammed shut.
However, the Frenchman is now being linked with a loan move to Turkey.
Sarr is thought to earn £120,000-per-week at Chelsea – more than fellow central defenders Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile.
Which clubs are targeting Sarr?
Several teams in Turkey are thought to be targeting a move for Sarr. And while no real frontrunners have emerged as of yet, there are certainly a couple who should be trying to sign the 24-year-old, even if it is only to add to squad depth.
Besiktas, for one, have already signed Eric Bailly and Daniel Amartey from English sides, but the latter is currently injured and the former is also notoriously injury prone. Tayyip Talha Sanuc and Emrecan Uzunhan are also ineligible to play in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The Black Eagles also tried a bid for Rob Holding earlier in the summer, but he has since left Arsenal for Crystal Palace, suggesting that they have scouted the English market thoroughly and could look to return.
Meanwhile, Trabzonspor are another Turkish side who have already used the English market to bolster their squad this season, with Nicolas Pepe also departing the Gunners. Joaquin Fernandez and Huseyin Turkmen are currently injured, leaving them with just three fit centre-backs in the squad.
How did it go so wrong for Sarr at Chelsea?
Chelsea saw Sarr as a rare market opportunity when they signed the then 21-year-old on a free transfer from OGC Nice, after he made more than 100 senior appearances for them, while also tasting UEFA Champions League football on loan at FC Porto.
He has also played for France 42 times at youth level, and so signing him for free showed a lot of promise at the time.
However, he has fallen out of favour with a few managers at Chelsea, including current boss Mauricio Pochettino, having not made a single matchday squad under the Argentinian so far this term.
At 24 years of age, Sarr can still make a name for himself in the game, and needs a fresh start in order to play more regularly and show the promise he had earlier in his career.
When does the transfer window close in Turkey?
The Turkish transfer window officially closes on September 15th.
