Liverpool will not sell Sakho on the cheap

Liverpool are reportedly prepared to play hardball in negotiations with Crystal Palace, should they seek to sign defender Mamadou Sakho on a permanent contract.

The France international had a rift with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp in pre-season after he intervened the German's press interview in order to know his status in the team.

Sakho followed in spending a lengthy time in the club's reserve squad before he was allowed to join Premier League club Crystal Palace on loan for the second half of the campaign.

The former Paris Saint-Germain ace has since provided a huge boost for Sam Allardyce's side who have gone on to win all four games that he has started while conceding a single goal in the process.

According to The Express, Sakho will be allowed to leave Anfield on a permanent basis in the summer as Klopp does not see the player as part of his plans.

However, any club willing to recruit him will have to pay big with the Reds holding out on a £30m sum for his sale during the off-season.

Crystal Palace had previously spent an initial £27m in order to recruit Christian Benteke from Anfield last summer, and they could yet be willing to match Sakho's valuation owing to his impact on the side in recent months.