Mamadou Sakho will reportedly cost Southampton or Crystal Palace an eye-watering £30 million.
Mamadou Sakho has settled very quickly at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace and Southampton have both been linked with trying to sign Mamadou Sakho in the summer.
He’s currently starring for the Eagles while on loan from Liverpool and has proven himself in the Premier League but he won’t be cheap, with the Liverpool Echo reporting the Reds will ask for £30 million for the Frenchman.
That would be a transfer record for both Palace and Saints, so with that in mind here are three alternative options who would be significantly cheaper.
John Brooks
The American has been one of the standout players for a Hertha Berlin side currently sixth in the Bundesliga, and at 24 would be both a short- and long-term fix.
John Brooks is one of a number of German-born US internationals
If adding a towering defender is an objective he’d certainly fit that bill as he’s actually taller than Sakho, and his playing style should translate well to English football.
Brooks also told German magazine Kicker that “it is a dream of mine to play in England”, so could well be keen on a move.
Harry Maguire
Maguire’s defending, and in particular his penchant for dribbling out of defence and venturing forward, has caught many an eye this season and he’ll surely be playing in the Premier League next season whether or not Hull survive.
Harry Maguire’s performance for Hull City at Chelsea was hugely impressive
For Southampton especially, this comfort on the ball would be a big attraction.
Also 24, Maguire would again be one for both the present and future and any side interested would be wise to buy him now while he’s still uncapped by England, therefore cheaper.
Wesley Hoedt
Hoedt has played enough in Serie A this season – a league still renowned for masterful defending – to show he’s a talented centre-back and his Lazio side have the division’s third most miserly defence.
Aged 23, Wesley Hoedt is the youngest player on this list
However he has perhaps not played as much as he would like, starting 16 of 30 league matches, so might be persuaded to come to England.
In January, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claimed that Leicester City had a £9 million bid for the Dutchman rejected.
If Palace or Southampton came forward with a larger bid and the promise of more regular football, the Lazio man might see Premier League links reappear.
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