Liverpool Expect Crystal Palace to Cough Up £30m for Mamadou Sakho While Eagles Prefer Loan Deal
Liverpool hold all the cards in any potential move for defender Mamadou Sakho, with the Reds adamant he will not be going out on another loan after his successful spell at Crystal Palace last season.
The Daily Mirrorreports that the French international will have to seal a permanent transfer to the London-based club for around the £30m mark or risk sitting on the bench at Anfield this season. Sevilla have also shown an interest in the 27-year-old, but senior officials at Liverpool will only consider a permanent switch.
PAUL ELLIS/GettyImages
After the January transfer window, Sakho proved his credentials in an Eagles shirt with a number of fine displays in the heart of the defence. The tough-tackling centre-back is now keen to link up with Sam Allardyce's successor, Frank de Boer, who was also a fine defender is his days with Ajax and Barcelona.
However, according to sources, Palace are unwilling to invest such a high sum in the left-footed stopper, who has just returned from a serious knee injury he picked up while out on loan. The Eagles are looking at alternatives in Arsenal's U21 England international Callum Chambers, with a £20m transfer under discussion.
One of the two possible purchases could battle new signing Jairo Riedewald for a first team place, after a £7.5m move from De Boer's former club Ajax. Sakho has now returned to Liverpool's Melwood training ground complex as he steps up his fitness in search of a move for more regular playing time.
After his eight games on loan helped to save Palace from relegation, he is a popular figure with the fans and staff of the club. Nevertheless, the question remains whether the club who narrowly avoided relegation last year, would be willing to stump up such a large fee for a player on the fringes of Liverpool's first team.
