According to The Athletic, West Bromwich Albion want to relieve Crystal Palace of the services of Mamadou Sakho in January.

What's the word?

Recent reports revealed the former Liverpool defender has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park to La Liga side Real Betis.

It's claimed West Brom have now joined Betis in the chase for Sakho, who has fallen out of favour with Roy Hodgson due to a recurring injury problem this season.

The Frenchman is among a number of players who's contracts with the club are set to expire at the end of this season, having spent the entirety of the game against Leicester City in the league as an unused substitute on the bench.

Time's up for Sakho

It doesn't take a fool to work out that it seems his time at the club is finally coming to an end.

He has been a key player for Palace as they pushed their way towards the upper echelons of the Premier League but with only a few months left on his current deal at Selhurst Park, you feel it's only a matter of time before they cut their losses once and for all.

Under Hodgson, Palace have surprisingly struggled to get out of first gear defensively this season but Sakho has fallen even further down the pecking order, despite their obvious struggles, as he is now considered surplus to requirements.

Once considered to be "incredible" by the Palace boss, it has been quite a dramatic fall from grace for the 30-year-old, who earns around £100,000-per-week at SE25, as he has made just four appearances in the Premier League in an injury-stricken campaign.

He would be a decent addition for the Baggies, who have their own set of problems at the back, providing he plays on a regular basis. In five appearances across all competitions, Sakho is averaging 2.8 clearances per game, via WhoScored.

Indeed, it was now-Albion boss Sam Allardyce who brought him to Selhurst Park in the first place - whether or not Palace fans will thank him for that though is another matter entirely.

Getting him off their colossal wage bill, either by way of a loan or permanent move in January, is surely a must at this stage, as it's clear he has no future at the club.

AND in other news, Bye-bye McCarthy: Roy Hodgson must push Crystal Palace to sign Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan...