Crystal Palace Give up on Mamadou Sakho

A potential £30 million auction for Mamadou Sakho will not involve Crystal Palace after chairman Steve Parish confirmed that the move “was not going to work out” this summer. Stressing that “there was other business to get done” as Ronald de Boer experiences his first transfer window as Sam Allardyce’s successor, Parish is either strategically backing off or simply moving on.

Paying £30 million for Sakho, an asking price that Liverpool seem firm on, may not be feasible. Ajax defender Joël Veltman has been linked with a £10 million move to South London in a move that would exploit de Boer’s knowledge of his former club. Chelsea centre back Kurt Zouma is another name that could join de Boer, but such a move would only be temporary. Zouma is more than good enough to play in the Premier League, but as Nathan Aké and Andreas Christensen showed last season, it's probably best to leave on loan.

The change in manager has added uncertainty to where Sakho will end up this summer. Sam Allardyce would have pushed for the French international’s signature but tendered a shock reisgnation in late May. Liverpool may hope other Premier League clubs will show interest in Sakho, but £30 million may be somewhat prohibitive. Michael Keane is going to Everton for £25 million, Nathan Aké has joined Bournemouth for £20 million, and Sakho could very well leave for a similar fee.

Liverpool have sold excellently in the past year or so, but being open to a compromise should see Sakho find a new permanent home. Still, Liverpool may yet spring a surprise and find a club willing to meet the club’s asking price for a 27-year-old defender with plenty of experience, character, and ability.