It has been a tough few years for Mamadou Sakho.
The former Liverpool centre-back, who signed for Crystal Palace from the Reds for £26m in 2017, has been dogged by injuries – he has missed at least 9 matches in each of the last four seasons due to a number of different issues.
This term, he has managed just eight appearances for the Eagles between different spells on the sidelines – not a very big return for the £100,000 a week he earns at the club.
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He does have a good track record, having featured for PSG and Liverpool, whilst he also has 29 caps for France to his name. Had he not struggled with so many injuries, he may have featured a lot more than the 63 appearances he has managed for the London outfit so far.
There has been some news on his fitness recently – he is now back in full training, and recently played 90 minutes for the club’s U23 side. However, it all seems to little, too late for his Palace future. Given that Palace are obviously a side with restricted funds – they have spent just over £17m across this season and the last – he is becoming a burden on the side.
Roy Hodgson’s side may have struggled in front of goal – they have managed just 25 in the Premier League so far this season, which only Newcastle have been unable to match – but they have been solid at the other end of the pitch. Only five sides have conceded less than their 32, with Gary Cahill, Scott Dann and James Tomkins getting the job done between them.
When Sakho has featured, he has done little to boost the backline – he may have only been included in the first XI six times, but only one of those ended in a clean sheet – and even in that clash he was sent off after 19 minutes.
Despite spending so much time in the treatment room, the 30-year-old still earns that huge wage – only three players receive more for the Eagles. How can Palace justify such a big fee for someone who just can’t be relied upon?
Some may see Sakho’s return as a boost, but the fact of the matter is, he is no longer needed at Selhurst Park.
Hodgson may need investment in some areas of the playing squad, but centre-back isn’t one of them.
Despite being one of the side’s biggest-ever signings, he is now almost surplus to requirements.
Elsewhere, Dougie Freedman should avoid signing this Premier League ace.