In the relegation zone fighting for their Premier League survival, Crystal Palace moved to bring in Mamadou Sakho on loan from Liverpool in the January transfer window of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
Frozen out by manager Jurgen Klopp, Sakho was keen to leave Anfield in search of regular playing time, and Crystal Palace supporters were left delighted when the Frenchman ended up choosing their club.
SAKHOOOOOOOOO
— Dec (@Decbo_CPFC) February 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/Cooke_Bill/status/826598222856495104
https://twitter.com/carter385/status/827147583772557314
Sakhooooooooo
— MrV Supports @UTAG17 (@agnostic81) February 1, 2017
— gazz griffiths (@gazmachno) February 1, 2017
@milesgirling @mamadousakho @LFC what a great photo!!! Cannot wait for selhurst on sat now!!
— Brett (@beansNcheese999) February 1, 2017
great news now it’s time for bed! What a great evening! Eagles!
— Mark A (@agoose24) February 1, 2017
In the end, Crystal Palace managed to secure Premier League safety and by some distance after finishing seven points above the relegation zone in 14th place with Sakho playing a major role.
At the back, the 28-year-old put in an array of solid and dominating performances which proved to be pivotal.
Sakho has since go on to join the Eagles permanently after the south London club met Liverpool’s £26m valuation (BBC Sport) for the central defender in a move they were absolutely correct to make.
On top of his authoritative displays, Sakho has also brought some technical ability to Crystal Palace’s back four with the France international often winning back the ball before bringing it out or slipping it accurately into a midfielder.
On a more negative note, Sakho can be prone to a costly moment of clumsiness or lapse in concentration, while his awkward posture when it possession at times can make supporters feel uneasy once they see an opposition player running towards the former Paris Saint-Germain man.
Overall, though, Sakho has been a brilliant addition to Crystal Palace’s squad with the level he was playing at back in the second half of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign showing exactly why.
