Crystal Palace are linked with both Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho and Arsenal defender Calum Chambers.
The same report also claims that the Eagles are trying to negotiate a deal for Arsenal defender Calum Chambers as well and in truth, that would be a far better option for them in any case.
Here’s why.
Arsenal’s Calum Chambers celebrates scoring their third goal
Price
The Reds are holding out for £30m for Sakho, despite the fact he is deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield and did not play a single game for them in 2016/17. Chambers, in contrast, is valued at £20m and that could well be a price that is negotiated lower.
Experience
Despite the fact Sakho is five years’ the Gunners youngster’s senior, he has played 17 fewer games in the Premier League than his counterpart at the Emirates Stadium. The Frenchman does admittedly have experience in Ligue 1 from his time from Paris Saint-Germain, but when it comes to English football Chambers has the upper hand.
Attitude
The reason Sakho was frozen out by Jurgen Klopp, as reported by ESPN, was for breaking club rules on a preseason tour of the USA and then later voicing his frustration on the social media platform Snapchat. It hardly screams professionalism ahead of an expensive new signing.
Versatility
While Sakho is exclusively a central defender, Chambers can play either in the middle of the backline or as a right-back. This makes him an extremely useful option as new manager Frank de Boer tries and works out his best formula in defence.
Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon and Mamadou Sakho after the match
Potential
As previously mentioned, Sakho is older than Chambers. The France international is 27, while the youngster from North London is 22 and therefore has more scope for improving both his form and valuation in the future.
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