In a recent interview, Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool, who play Bournemouth away on Sunday, will look to offload Mamadou Sakho from the club in January. When asked about his winter transfer plans, Klopp indicated that he will refuse to sell any player in the first team squad in January but made it very clear that Sakho is not considered a part of the first team any longer.
“There is absolutely no thought or idea to sell any player from the first team squad. I don’t think it would make sense,” Jurgen Klopp stated. “This actual first-team squad is in this dressing room, from this point of view nobody will be sold. But do you really think I would have said Sakho will not be sold in winter? Nothing has changed.”
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These statements are damning for Sakho’s hopes of a future at Anfield. He has found himself training with the reserves since the start of the season after several disciplinary incidents that has tested the manager’s patience. He was sent back home early from Liverpool’s pre-season tour after missing his flight, training sessions and team dinner, and his public outburst on social media against Klopp and the club’s ‘lies’ regarding his fitness did not do him any favours.
These incidents come on the back of the controversies surrounding Sakho when doping charges were placed against him for allegedly using a prohibited fat loss substance. This resulted in a 30-day ban for the Frenchman and he subsequently missed the EURO 2016 for France. The case against him was eventually dismissed in July, but his indiscipline and lack of respect for the club has meant that he hasn’t played a match for Liverpool since April.
West Brom were interested in acquiring Sakho’s services in the summer transfer window, and will possibly look to make another audacious attempt for the former PSG captain in January. They had a loan bid knocked back by Liverpool in November, but Tony Pulis’ side are in dire need of a solid defender to shore up their back line and will undoubtedly vie for his signature again.
If Sakho doesn’t secure a transfer in January, his career will stagnate as there is very little chance of him ever pulling on a Liverpool shirt again. Jurgen Klopp would rather prefer Lucas Leiva as a makeshift defender than allow Sakho to enter the first team dressing room, so it is in the best interest of both parties to part ways.
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