Unlike most other winter transfer windows, this season has some really good and experienced defenders available for the lower clubs to grab at a cut-price deal, which includes the likes of Mamadou Sakho, Jose Fonte, Phil Jagielka and more.
Liverpool outcast, Sakho, has been a constant name on the radar of many clubs including Swansea City, Sunderland and Bournemouth, who are plotting a move for him. The latest club to join the race is Crystal Palace, as per reports. The Eagles had a pathetic start to their Premier League campaign and they are currently hovering just above the relegation zone with just a point separating them from the bottom three.
A change in the administration has definitely not helped them unlike Hull City, and their new boss Sam Allardyce is going all out in the transfer season to bolster the side. Maintaining their top-flight status will be the main aim for Palace and the appointment of Allardyce, who is a specialist in saving teams from relegation, has it as one of his main objectives.
The weakest link in the Palace team is their defence, which has conceded 40 goals this season so far, out of which three were in the last league match, where they were humiliated by a struggling West Ham United side.
Allardyce thinks he could make Sakho useful in the second-half of the season, and we have no reason to distrust him. Although the French defender hasn’t seen any action in Liverpool’s first team this season, making only five appearances for their Under-23s side, there is no doubt in his quality.
A Paris Saint-Germain’s academy product, Sakho is known for his strength and vision in the centre-half role. At 187cm, he is quite strong in the air and is known for his perfect passing from the deeper areas. He likes to move up with short link-up plays and is strong in holding on to the ball. With top level experience in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and even featuring in France’s 2014 World Cup squad, he would definitely be a level up for Palace.
Although Klopp hasn’t openly stated anything on his situation, a departure looks imminent for the player who has a rift with the club’s gaffer. He hasn’t played any game for the Under-23s since before New Year’s Eve as Liverpool don’t want him to suffer from any unnecessary injury prior to selling him.
Liverpool signed him for around £25m and they would like to squeeze back most of it when they sell him. Palace sure have the money to land him at Selhurst Park and given his defensive attributes, the 26-year-old could be a huge asset to Palace in their survival.
