I hope the gossip is wrong also. For me the real problem is often the player's agent. Taking Sarr, for example, the agent will get £3m-£6m from the transfer (assuming sold for £60m) and a further £100k-£200k pa of his salary (usually paid once a year by the buying club - nice!).
I have visions of a Danny de Vito lookalike, loads of jewellery and a big fat cigar. So it's unlikely he'd want a long term servant (eg Matt le Tissier) whose transfer value diminishes (potentially to zero) with age.
Of course we don't see everything. Apart from the player's ambition there are "softer" factors such as family, language and religion.
Ah well no doubt all will be revealed later this week. In the meantime, as a Palace fan for over 60yrs I am reminded of that famous quote "It's the hope that kills you".