Despite falling behind Dejan Lovren in the centre-back pecking order, Mamadou Sakho will not leave Liverpool this summer, reports claim.
Liverpool have rejected a loan bid from Serie A side AS Roma for centre-back Mamadou Sakho.
That is according to Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo, who claims the offer was rebuffed “without hesitation.”
“Sakho is not among the players Liverpool are actively looking to move on before the transfer window closes,” Walsh writes.
“The former PSG man was not a part of the squad on the opening weekend of the season against Stoke, although the centre back missed three days of training in the run up to the game after the birth of his daughter, Sienna.
“The ECHO understands the offer was with a view to the permanent transfer, but it was rejected flatly and without hesitation.”
While Sakho has seemingly fallen into second-choice for Brendan Rodgers’ left-sided centre-back, behind Croatian Dejan Lovren, that Liverpool flatly refused Roma’s offer is encouraging.
However, on the subject of Sakho’s departure Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph elaborated:
“Sakho is not a player Liverpool are actively trying to sell – unlike several other members of the squad – and the shortage of centre-half options would mean only a huge bid and the possibility of recruiting a swift replacement would prompt a change before now and the end of the window.”
Though Lovren’s performance in the Reds’ season opener away to Stoke City was impressive, the jury is still out on the 26-year-old.
“I don’t think either of them have covered themselves in glory since they’ve come here and I’m looking for a lot more this season from both players,” former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher said this week.
Carragher’s appraisal of Lovren and Sakho throws down the gauntlet for the pair in 2015/16.
With Liverpool competing on four fronts this season, and Lovren a decidedly suspect option partnering Martin Skrtel, Rodgers will need to hold on to Sakho this summer.
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