West Bromwich Albion journalist Joseph Masi spent some time talking about the possibility of West Brom signing Crystal Palace centre-back Mamadou Sakho during the most recent edition of The Express and Star’s Baggies Broadcast podcast.
This comes after The Athletic’s West Brom reporter Steve Madeley claimed that Sakho is on the January wishlist of Baggies boss Sam Allardyce, who previously managed the 30-year-old during his time at Selhurst Park, while The Sun’s Alan Nixon has claimed that Albion are ‘keen on’ the £8.55m-rated man, whose Palace contract is set to expire at the end of June.
However, Masi cast some doubt on these journalists’ claims during this podcast, declaring that he doesn’t think West Brom are actually interested in signing the Eagles man.
He said: “What I am willing to say is I don’t think they’re interested in Sakho. Sorry to burst your bubble there.”
TIF Thoughts on Masi’s revelation about West Brom and Sakho…
Given that Allardyce has managed Sakho previously, perhaps it would make sense for him to make a move for the Frenchman this month, with his contract at Selhurst Park winding down, provided the Baggies boss enjoyed working with him in the past, as The Athletic’s claim on his interest would suggest that he did.
As Allardyce has admitted that Albion’s January transfer business will be crucial for their Premier League survival bid, the opportunity to link back up with a player that he knows would, then, perhaps make sense, as it might represent a relatively safe option for the West Brom manager.
However, Sakho has not played a significant role for Roy Hodgson’s side this term, with the Frenchman making just four Premier League appearances for the Eagles and earning the lowest average overall rating of any Palace player in the 2020/21 league campaign, per WhoScored.
The centre-back also earns £30k per week more than West Brom’s highest earner Charlie Austin, per Spotrac.
Would Sakho be a good signing for West Brom?
YES
NO
Perhaps Sakho’s form and high wages are red flags for Allardyce with regard to doing this deal and so, if Masi is right in saying that the Baggies aren’t actually interested in the Palace man, maybe that would be a wise move from the club.