Mamadou Sakho has garnered interest from across Europe this transfer window, after falling dramatically out of favour with manager Jurgen Klopp. The centre-back seemingly has no opportunity to reclaim his first-team role, with a move away from Merseyside almost guaranteed—despite there being no major developments so far in January.
The likes of Swansea City and Crystal Palace have only made initial enquiries as to Sakho’s availability, serving as no real indicator of their interest. Reports suggest that Southampton have made their first move for the Reds’ No. 3, though it has proved unsuccessful.
This has come with Saints manager Claude Puel seeking a loan deal for Sakho, in the light of Jose Fonte’s shock transfer to West Ham this month—with Liverpool only interested in moving him on permanently.
“We will see what happens in the next few days of the transfer window,” Klopp told reporters this week, before joking: “I’m really excited for January 31!”
Liverpool value Sakho at £20 million, despite his unfavorable position, given the current climate in the market for top-level centre-backs and the fact his contract runs until 2020. Whether they will secure the full fee remains to be seen, but it is unlikely they will sanction a loan deal, having already been willing to keep him at the club for the past six months.
Sakho has only featured for Liverpool’s under-23s side this season, having been frozen out of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans for numerous disciplinary issues.
This summer saw him sent home from Liverpool’s preseason tour to the United States for breaching club rules on three separate occasions. Sakho moved to Anfield in the summer of 2013 from Paris Saint-Germain for a deal worth around £18m.