Even though it’s getting late in the summer transfer window, Mamadou Sakho is probably going to generate a lot of interest in the next few days, as more and more teams are trying to jump in in order to sign him, with reports suggesting that Barcelona, AC Milan and Arsenal seem like the closest clubs to try and signing the PSG player.
According to David Ornstein of the BBC, Tottenham can also be included in this group that is looking to approach PSG for the player, but like Liverpool, who have shown interest in him very early on in this summer, are probably going to be left behind. Sakho wants first team football, which he isn’t going to get with Alex, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos on the team.
While last season injuries were enough to give him plenty of lineup time, being placed 4th on the centre back depth chart doesn’t make him feel too confident about his chances, and so he looks to be moving on.
Sakho wants playing time, Champions League football and a team that gives him the chance to remain with the national team, already making 14 caps with Les Bleus. With those factors in mind, both Tottenham and Liverpool are probably out of the question, although both Arsenal and AC Milan can still find themselves out of the competition.
As for Barcelona, they are probably the most lucrative of options, but Sakho might worry that finding himself in the lineup will be a harder trick to pull of at the Nou Camp, even if they do have a lot of defensive problems.
The favorites, so? Arsenal and AC Milan in all likelihood. Both need a centre back, and both could give Sakho the option of playing next to a French teammate. Both shouldn’t have a problem with the projected signing fee of €12 million, although the salary of €6 million might be tricky to agree upon.