Crystal Palace target £12m Hiroki Sakai transfer to bolster defence

Crystal Palace are interested in signing £12million-rated Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai.

Eagles boss Roy Hodgson is in the market for a right-back and was keen on Fulham’s Ryan Fredericks before he joined West Ham yesterday on a four-year deal.

However, Standard Sport understands Palace have identified several possible options for the position — which has become a priority with Joel Ward’s contract due to expire this month — and Sakai is on their shortlist.

The 28-year-old signed a new deal last October and has three years remaining on a £50,000-a-week deal. He is thought to be happy at Marseille but it is believed they are willing to sanction his departure.

Sakai has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs, including Brighton and Leicester, but that pair have so far expressed reservations about the valuation.

Sevilla have scouted the Japan star, while AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli are among Italian sides monitoring the situation.

It is believed that Sakai’s preference is to play in England and although he is seeking an increase on his current salary, his wage demands are unlikely to be prohibitive for Palace, whose leading stars earn around double his present amount.

Hodgson believes Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a promising talent and will remain part of his first-team plans for next season, having made seven League appearances this term in a breakthrough campaign.

But Sakai would add considerable experience to the ranks, having spent four years at Hannover 96 after leaving his homeland, where he won the J League with Kashiwa Reysol. He has been at Marseille for two seasons.

He would also present significant commercial opportunities, given the interest from Asia in Premier League football.