BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 23, 2016: Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho in action against Everton during the Mini-Derby FA Premier League 2 Under-23 match at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

CONFIRMED: Mamadou Sakho joins Crystal Palace on loan

Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho has agreed a six-month loan deal with Crystal Palace, after the club failed to secure a permanent transfer.

Sakho was made available for transfer at the beginning of the January window, with the Reds valuing their No. 3 at £20 million.

But with Jurgen Klopp having exiled Sakho following concerns over his conduct over the summer, no club was willing to offer Liverpool a permanent deal, forcing them to settle for a loan.

This has seen Sakho make the move to Palace on deadline day, with the Premier League side covering his wages and paying a loan fee, believed to be £2 million.

The move was finally confirmed shortly after 1am on Wednesday morning.

Sakho will spend the rest of the season at Selhurst Park, before likely seeking a long-term move in the summer, when the market is more stable and clubs more willing to add to their ranks.

He has made 80 appearances for Liverpool since his £18 million move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013, but is not due to add to that tally.

Joining Palace marks the end of a miserable saga that began when Sakho was suspended by UEFA for a suspected drug violation in April, keeping him out of action for the rest of the 2015/16 campaign.

He subsequently suffered an Achilles injury on his return in pre-season, but still travelled for the Reds’ tour of the United States, before being sent home by Klopp midway through.

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 28, 2016: Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho gives instructions to team-mate Tiago Ilori during the Premier League International Cup match against Wolfsburg at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Sakho spent the first half of the season with the Liverpool U23s, and was praised for his professionalism working alongside the club’s young stars.

He formed a strong partnership with another out-of-favour centre-back, Tiago Ilori, before the Portuguese joined Reading in a £3.75 million deal earlier in January.

But as with Ilori, Sakho was always fated to leave Merseyside before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline, and the 26-year-old can hope to restore his flagging reputation with Sam Allardyce’s Eagles.

His departure is still a disappointing one, given his excellent performances at the heart of the defence over his three seasons in the first team at Anfield.

Sakho was particularly influential in the Reds’ road to the Europa League final last term, scoring in their dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.

He was also imperious in the 1-1 draw with Man United in the last 16, while his final appearance for the club, April’s 4-0 win at home to Everton, was marked with a phenomenal showing at the back.

But with Klopp clearly ruling him out of contention at Liverpool, he must now move on and establish himself elsewhere, with Palace now able to call upon an accomplished defensive talent.

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