Liverpool have been relatively quiet this January transfer window, as have many other clubs. A key piece of business for the Reds, however, came on deadline day as centre-back Mamadou Sakho has joined Premier League counterparts Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season.
The Eagles will pay £2 million upfront as well as his full wages until the end of the season, as rumours state that Steve Parish’s club weren’t willing to pay the full asking price of £20 million for the 26-year-old French defender.
Sakho at Liverpool
After making 80 appearances for the Anfield side since signing in the summer of 2013 from Paris Saint-German, Sakho has been left out of the side after poor relations with manager Jürgen Klopp.
Towards the end of last season controversy began to surround the Frenchman after the use of a fat burner caused him to miss the Europa League Final as well as causing him to miss out on the France squad for Euro 2016. In addition to this, relations between him and Klopp seemed to have faltered after Sakho was sent home from the pre-season Tour in the USA for turning up late multiple times as well as reportedly showing a poor attitude and being a destructive influence. Since these events, Sakho has been exiled to the Under 23’s and hasn’t made a first-team appearance this season.
The signings of defenders Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, as well as the return from injury for Cup games by Joe Gomez, only made it even more difficult for Sakho to return to the first team. He will try and have a strong end to the season, although a permanent return to Liverpool seems very unlikely at this point.
Sakho to Crystal Palace
He will benefit Palace in what is a tough relegation scrap. Coming in at Selhurst Park and playing alongside the likes of Scott Dann and James Tomkins should bolster up the strength and solidity of the defence, as well as the depth.
Sam Allardyce got his first win as Palace manager on Tuesday night—a 2-0 win at Bournemouth. Regardless, the club is still struggling towards the bottom of the table. Defensive solidity is greatly needed, as the Eagles have conceded 41 goals this season. The lack of a coherent defensive structure led to the sacking of manager Alan Pardew earlier in the season.
Whilst Allardyce is an expert at suring up defences and saving teams from relegation, the addition of Sakho will only be a positive.
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