Mamadou Sakho is closing in on a move to Lyon with France Football reporting that the Crystal Palace defender is set to take substantial pay cut to seal a return to Ligue 1.
While Eagles boss Roy Hodgson didn’t exactly sound like a man preparing to lose one of his most experienced and influential players, telling the Star that he was ‘delighted’ to have Sakho back after a spell on the sidelines, it seems that the player himself has no plans to extend his stay at Selhurst Park.
The former PSG captain has spent the last seven years in England.
And, according to reports from across the Channel, Sakho is even willing to sacrifice his bank balance in order to make an emotional return to his homeland during the upcoming transfer window.
France Football claims that Sakho is on the verge of signing a three-year deal with an underachieving Lyon side who missed out on European football for the first time since 1997 this season – much to the chagrin of outspoken president Jean-Michel Aulas.
The 30-year-old is expected to take a substantial pay cut to make the move happen, with Lyon unable or unwilling to match the £100,000-a-week wages he currently takes home at Selhurst Park.
And while Hodgson is still a big fan of a man who played a major role as Palace avoided relegation under Sam Allardyce in 2017, it seems that the Eagles may be forced to sell if an acceptable offer arrives.
Sakho will be a free agent in 12 months’ time.
Lyon are expected to pay around £4 million – a fee that would see Crystal Palace take a huge loss on a player they signed from Liverpool for big money.
But £4 million is better that nothing at all.
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