Crystal Palace are the latest Premier League side to throw their hat in the ring as Mamadou Sakho searches for a new club this January.
Sakho is due to become Liverpool’s most high-profile departure of the winter, but despite the window being open for over two weeks, he is yet to decide on a destination.
Southampton, Bournemouth, West Brom and Swansea City are all reportedly interested in the out-of-favour Frenchman, along with Sevilla, Galatasaray and Spartak Moscow.
Their latest competitor in the race to sign Sakho are Palace, with the Mail‘s Liverpool correspondent, Dominic King, reporting the struggling Eagles had made an enquiry.
This comes with Sam Allardyce keen to sign “experienced players,” as he bids to stave off relegation in his first campaign at Selhurst Park.
Palace are currently 17th in the Premier League table, just one point above bottom-placed Swansea and four points off 16th-placed Middlesbrough.
Sakho would join Scott Dann, James Tomkins and Damien Delaney as Allardyce’s centre-back options, and could become the club’s second signing this month, following Jeffrey Schlupp.
Palace already have two ex-Reds on their books in Martin Kelly and Christian Benteke, with Sakho joining familiar faces.
Sakho has been turning out for the Liverpool U23s this season so far, but has not featured since the turn of the year, with the club eager to preserve his fitness as he pursues a permanent move.
Palace are certainly not concerned with spending heavily in the January market, having already paid £12 million to bring Schlupp to southeast London from Leicester City.
Liverpool are looking to secure £20 million for Sakho, who signed a new long-term contract back in September, with his deal set to expire in 2020.
He is likely to become the Reds’ second permanent departure of the winter, with Tiago Ilori due to finalise his £3.75 million move to Reading in the coming days.
Pedro Chirivella has also joined Go Ahead Eagles on loan, with Brooks Lennon expected to join former club Real Salt Lake on a temporary deal, too.
Lucas Leiva has also been considering a mid-season switch, with Inter Milan interested in signing the Brazilian, but Sakho’s exit, his injury and Joel Matip‘s eligibility dispute, should put paid to that.
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