---
title: "Marseille’s Hiroki Sakai linked with move to Palace"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2018/06/06/marseilles-hiroki-sakai-linked-with-move-to-palace/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alfonso Greenbrook"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2018-06-06T12:21:28Z"
modified: "2018-06-06T12:21:28Z"
---

# Marseille’s Hiroki Sakai linked with move to Palace

Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, with Roy Hodgson looking to bolster his defence, according to the [Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/crystal-palace-target-12m-hiroki-sakai-to-bolster-defence-a3856521.html).

The Japanese international has bee on Palace’s radar for a while and, after one of their previous targets, Ryan Fredericks, joined West Ham yesterday, it is now understood that Sakai is a summer target

Joel Ward’s future at Selhurst Park is still unclear, with the full-back yet to sign a new deal, so with the possible departure of the right-back, a move for the Marseille man seems logical.

28-year-old Sakai signed a new deal with the French side last October and is valued at around £12m. He has seen a number of European and Premier League clubs show an interest in his services, including AC Milan, Napoli, Inter Milan, Brighton and Leicester.

![Clive Rose/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readcrystalpalace.com/readcrystalpalace/sites/17/2018/06/872467730.jpg)

The Standard report that it is his ‘preference to play in England’ and that ‘he is seeking an increase on his current salary’, so a move to Palace could be on the cards.