Liverpool will intensify efforts to sell Mamadou Sakho in January after Jürgen Klopp confirmed the France international is not considered part of his first team squad.
The Liverpool manager insists he has no intention of selling Daniel Sturridge or any member of the first team squad when the transfer window opens in January. He was responding to reports that West Ham United are considering a move for the England international.
“There is absolutely no thought or idea to sell any player from the first team squad,” he said. “I don’t think it would make sense. Unfortunately Daniel is not in training now and that is what I am more concerned about than any transfer rumours, but I am prepared for everything you could ask me in January.”
Klopp’s desire to retain the squad that has propelled Liverpool to second in the table, however, does not involve Sakho. The £19m defender has been marginalised since being sent home from a pre-season tour of the United States for disciplinary breaches.
Attempts to offload the 26-year-old on loan were frustrated in the summer and Sakho, who signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool only last September, placed further strain on his relationship with Klopp when he contested the manager’s claims about his fitness on Snapchat.
The former Paris Saint-Germain captain has been training with Liverpool’s under-23 squad ever since that late-night outburst in September, though was able to attend a Victoria’s Secret fashion show in the French capital this week. Nice, West Bromwich Albion and several Italian clubs have been linked with a move for the defender in January. And Klopp has left Sakho in no doubt over his Anfield future by confirming he does not feature in his first-team plans.
He added: “Now you know, I said it: he is not in these plans for the first team. The first-team squad is here [at the training ground]. Do you really think I would have said Sakho will not be sold in winter? Nothing changed. Once again this actual first-team squad is in this dressing room, from this point of view nobody will be sold.”
Sturridge will miss Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth and the chance for only a fifth Premier League start this season in the absence of Philippe Coutinho, who has a calf problem. Coutinho may be out until the new year with ankle ligament damage but Adam Lallana, who has missed the last three games with a groin injury, and Roberto Firmino, who took a kick to the calf against Sunderland last Saturday, are in contention.
“I am happy Lallana is back in training,” said Klopp. “Adam’s first session was on Thursday and it was good but of course we need to see how he reacts to the intensity of the training because it was quite intense for him. Roberto trained yesterday too. He still has a little bit of pain but it is painful, not serious. He’s quite a tough guy and came through the session so we will see how he reacts.”
