Benteke trying to persuade Sakho to leave Liverpool

Christian Benteke says he is trying to convince Mamadou Sakho that leaving Liverpool for Crystal Palace would benefit him.

Sakho has impressed upon joining the Reds on loan in January.

Of the seven games in which the Frenchman has played the full 90 minutes for Sam Allardyce’s side this season, they have won five, lost just one and kept four clean sheets.

Sakho’s stock has risen dramatically as a result, and Liverpool are thought to have valued the centre-half at around £30million.

Jurgen Klopp has endured a difficult relationship with the player and is expected to sell instead of integrating him back into the first team, giving Palace potential hope of signing him.

Benteke, who played with the defender at Anfield before they linked up again at Selhurst Park, is trying to convince Sakho to stay.

“I’m trying to persuade him to stay but it will be tough,” he said.

“He’ll have offers from other clubs, although our chairman and boss will try to get him to stay too.

“He’s made such a difference to us. First, we have to make sure we remain in the Prem, but we’re not far away now.”