Crystal Palace were in pole position to sign Mamadou Sakho but now Southampton could steal back in.
Gone… now former Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce made the surprise decision to resign as Crystal Palace manager yesterday, after keeping the Eagles in the Premier League.
Allardyce has no desires to take another job, The Guardian reported, leaving several questions behind as to the fate of his Crystal Palace players.
One with more questions than most is Mamadou Sakho, the French centre-back who impressed on loan from Liverpool.
Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho in action
The Mirror reported that Liverpool wanted £30 million from Palace to sign Sakho, a steep figure, but one their American investors could have been persuaded to pay, with the right convincing from Allardyce.
Without the former England boss at the helm, Palace’s chances have been seriously dented.
The Telegraph reported two months ago that Southampton were very keen on Sakho, having discussed the possibility of signing him from the Reds in January.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk
Allardyce’s departure from Palace give Southampton a renewed opportunity to steal in to sign the Frenchman, and they have the biggest ace in the pack of all, Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool are known admirers of Van Dijk and have him on their summer shortlist. The Telegraph report they are interested despite a £50 million fee.
Putting Sakho into the mix would work for both parties, giving Southampton a ready made replacement, and reducing Liverpool’s outlay.
Sakho’s desire to return to Palace would have complicated matters, now a cash plus player trade makes perfect sense.
Southampton’s Dusan Tadic in action with Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho
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