Crystal Palace have not given up hope of signing Mamadou Sakho permanently.
The unwanted Liverpool defender spent the second half of this season on loan with the Eagles as they successfully avoided Premier League relegation.
But the Reds are holding out for a minimum £30 million fee to secure Sakho’s release this summer amid interest from Southampton and Napoli.
But Palace chairman Steve Parish remains optimistic that a deal for the former France international, who was banished by Jurgen Klopp, can be reached.
“You can’t con anyone that he didn’t make a massive difference,” he told the Holmesdale Radio podcast
“We won some massive games with him. He’s a really nice person, a big character, he’s got the respect of all the players, and it’s one we’d like to do.
“But, of course, we have a lot of things we need to do in the summer, and the money needs to work for us and for Liverpool.”
He added: “I’m sure there’ll be a negotiation on that. If we can make it work, of course we’d like to, I’m not going to try and be coy or clever on that.
“He’s a very good player and I think he likes being with us. We like him. Let’s hope we can do it.”
Sakho last played for Liverpool in April 2016 before he was charged with failing a drugs test by UEFA although the case was later dropped.
His return to Anfield proved problematic as he was banished from pre-season training by Klopp and attacked the club in a social media outburst in September.