On-loan Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is being targeted by Crystal Palace in the summer. The defender is currently on loan at Palace and the club are aiming to sign the player permanently after his impressive displays since joining them. However, the Eagles face competition for his signature.
Sakho moved to Selhurst Park in January after being frozen out at Anfield by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, but the loan deal did not include an option to buy him.
And Southampton are believed to be interested in signing the centre-half as they are expected to lose Dutchman Virgil Van Dijk to Chelsea this summer.
Napoli are also said to be interested in the 27-year old’s services as Sakho has finally reached a stage where he has a good chance to resurrect his failing career.
It looked like Sakho’s career was falling apart after the Frenchman faced a ban from football for anti-doping violations, which was lifted soon after and then fell out with Klopp during the pre-season last summer. However, his impressive short stint with loan club Crystal Palace seems to be attracting interest from clubs all over Europe.
The Frenchman has helped the Eagles record 3 straight wins and 3 clean sheets to reduce their danger of relegation.
Palace manager Sam Allardyce seems to be planning to keep the defender but admitted earlier this month that it would take a “big negotiation” to make his loan move permanent.
Liverpool paid £16million to sign Sakho from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013. He has made 28 appearances and scored 2 goals for his country.
With summer signing Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren forming a solid centre-half partnership, it looks quite a Herculean task for Sakho to try and break into the Liverpool XI.
It looks highly likely that Liverpool will qualify for Champions League next season and they would surely dip into the transfer market to bring some fresh faces. Hence, it totally makes sense for the club to sell Sakho and the Frenchman too would be better served with a fresh start elsewhere.
