Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has indicated that the club are unlikely to be able to sign Mamadou Sakho from Liverpool on a permanent basis.
Sakho was outstanding for the Eagles while on loan last season, playing a key role in their Premier League survival.
Parish has held talks with Liverpool about a possible agreement but the Merseyside club appear to be unwilling to sell on the cheap.
Parish told American radio station SiriusXM FC: “I think that is going to be a very difficult one for us to do. I think Liverpool want a big number for him.
“That is a tough one to make happen on a permanent basis. We need to look at the budgets and be realistic.”
Parish is also looking to appoint a new manager following the recent resignation of Sam Allardyce.
The likes of Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic and former England manager Roy Hodgson have been linked with the job.
And Parish says he is keen to hire someone who will encourage a return to the kind of ethos which existed under former manager Steve Coppell.
“We really want somebody who feels they can come in and help us improve the footballing side of the club over a long period of time,” Parish explained.
“In the past we have had managers like Steve Coppell who have been at the club a long time and helped build the club. If we could get one of those relationships again that would be preferable.”
