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Cape Town - Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has admitted he is doing everything he can to convince Mamadou Sakho to stay at the club next season.
Benteke played alongside Sakho during their time at Liverpool and knows how much quality the defender has, which is why he believes it's important to hold onto him.
Sakho moved to Palace from the Reds on a loan deal in January, and has helped solidify the Eagles defence as they aim for Premier League survival.
However, it seems likely that other teams will be eager to snap up the centre-back during the off-season, something Palace are trying to avoid.
"I'm trying to persuade him to stay but it will be tough," Benteke told the Evening Standard.
"He'll have offers from other clubs, although our chairman and boss will try to get him to stay too.
"He's made such a difference to us. First, we have to make sure we remain in the Prem - but we're not far away now."
Meanwhile Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has revealed he feared his career would dwindle following his forgettable time with Manchester United.
The Ivory Coast international who was Sir Alex Ferguson's last signing as United boss, was not given a chance by the Scot's successors David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, and eventually returned to Selhurst Park.
