Sam Allardyce needs crucial additions at West Brom this January if he's to even stand a chance at upholding the impressive feat of never being relegated from the Premier League, though one target is far from the answer next month...

What's the word?

According to The Athletic's Steve Madeley, the 66-year-old has former centre-back Mamadou Sakho high on his shortlist going into the transfer window.

The Frenchman is a player Big Sam signed for Crystal Palace from Liverpool in January 2017 for £26m, despite reported interest from then-Baggies boss Tony Pulis.

It's claimed that he would command a sizeable loan fee as well as a commitment to pay the majority of his £100k-per-week wages, and there is even a prospect to buying him permanently after the loan should they stay up.

Transfer disaster?

It's no secret that a new central defender should be among the top priorities for Allardyce in January, but perhaps he should be looking elsewhere to the hardly-seen 30-year-old.

Over the course of the past 18 months, Sakho has only managed to start 14 times for Roy Hodgson - for good reason too, he's failed to average over 0.8 tackles or even 1.5 aerial duels won per game, via WhoScored.

For someone that is 6 foot 2 and was once a first-choice under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, that is a shocking return.

Earlier in the current campaign, Sakho came under fire from the Exiled Eagles podcast. One of the pundits dubbed the veteran a "liability," he said via This is Futbol:

"At the time we signed him, I remember saying that that was not a signing the manager wants, that’s a signing [Steve] Parish made to appease the fans after the loan spell – simple as. He’s a liability, he’s gone downhill – another one – we cannot give him away. Who is going to sign him?"

Sakho is far from your conventional defender, a maverick who is more reckless than not - something backed up by his poor disciplinary record - and that is exactly what the Baggies need to steer clear of if they are to survive this current plight.

If Luke Dowling has any sense, he'll reject this suggestion at the first point of asking.

AND in other news, West Brom exclusive: Sam Allardyce tipped to sign forgotten PL man in January...