Mamadou Sakho looks increasingly likely to return to Liverpool in the summer, as Crystal Palace may not be able to complete his permanent signing. The French defender was a crucial factor in helping the London outfit avoid relegation. His signing changed the dynamic of the club, which had been one of the poorest at defending in the first half of the season.
Sakho was influential in the Crystal Palace team and it was rumoured that then-manager Sam Allardyce was keen on making the transfer permanent. Even though he would have cost the club £30million, Crystal Palace were ready to pay the amount by taking advantage of the increased Premier League TV money.
Sakho moved to Crystal Palace on a loan deal last summer, after falling out of favour with Jurgen Klopp. Even though the defender caught the attention of the Liverpool boss during his impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace, Klopp refused to confirm if Sakho had a future at Anfield. Now, Crystal Palace is focused on making the next managerial appointment, after Sam Allardyce left the club in the blink of the eye. The club are searching for their 7th manager in the last 7 seasons. With the club’s direction unknown, it is reported by Liverpool Echo that Liverpool’s plan to sell him for £30m is in doubt.
As a result, Sakho looks likely to return to Anfield. He lost his place in the team towards the end of the 2015-16 and was found guilty of breaching the club’s rules during the 2016-17 pre-season tour. As a result, he spent the first half of the season on the sidelines and was training with the under-23 team. Just when it seemed that he would be frozen out of the club forever, the move to Crystal Palace put him back on the map once again.
While Crystal Palace might not sign the player on a permanent basis, it does not rule out the possibility of other Premier League clubs coming in for the 27-year-old. This especially includes clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United, who are in the market for a new centre-back.
