Liverpool Work Towards Mamadou Sakho Compromise with Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have long been considered favourites to sign out of favour centre half Mamadou Sakho following the 26-year-old’s successful loan spell at the London club last season, but Liverpool’s insistence on securing a £30M fee for the player has until now proven an insurmountable obstacle.

Now, though, Goal’s Melissa Reddy reports that the two sides have met and are working towards a compromise that would see Liverpool agree to a significant portion of the fee being based on achievable add-ons, allowing the two clubs to bridge the gap between Liverpool’s valuation and Palace’s budget.

The most likely interpretation of that would be a deal including add-ons based on Palace’s continued Premier League survival, one that would allow the club to pay less up front for Sakho while insuring Liverpool would receive something like the full fee they are seeking if Palace stay up.

A sell-on fee to protect Liverpool if Palace were relegated could also be included. Sakho is personally keen on a permanent move, having enjoyed his time at Selhurst Park last season and given he would welcome the chance to once again reunite with former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke.

Though Palace have yet to make a formal bid, the hope and expectation is that within the coming days they will reach an understanding with Liverpool and do so. At that point, with terms already agreed in principle with the player, the deal is likely to be concluded in short order.