Diafra Sakho looked set to swap West Ham United for Crystal Palace, but Premier League rivals Newcastle United and West Brom are not giving up yet.
Crystal Palace look to have a deal for Diafra Sakho in the bag.
The Mail reported on Wednesday evening that Palace had made a £10 million bid for the West Ham striker and seemed to be closing on the signing with David Moyes’ side open to offers below their preferred £15 million price-tag. And Sky Sports added this morning that he is set to undergo a medical with Roy Hodgson’s side.
But The Mail (live blog, 10.01am), states that relegation rivals Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion both made late moves to hijack Sakho’s potential transfer to Selhurst Park.
Interestingly, Newcastle have already attempted to sign the Senegalese centre-forward this week. The Sun stated that the Magpies – who once again seem unlikely to spend big with owner Mike Ashley unwilling to invest – had failed in an attempt to sign Sakho on loan.
Now it appears they are stepping up their interest. But £10 million would represent a substantial chunk of Rafa Benitez’s January budget, with The Chronicle claiming that he believes he has less than £20 million to spend.
West Brom, meanwhile, have been linked with the former Metz striker for a number of months. Sky Sports stated that the Baggies had agreed a £16 million deal with West Ham in July 2016 but then pulled out of the deal as Sakho, who has suffered a series of injury problems in recent years, would not be fit to start the season.
A year-and-a-half on, however, West Brom could miss out once again, with Palace the clear front-runners for Sakho.
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