Liverpool’s central defender Mamadou Sakho has had an up and down career at Anfield. At times he is looked like an imperious leader on the pitch and indispensable to the side. At others, he has looked like a clumsy, erratic accident waiting to happen, and has had significant periods out of favour under Brendan Rodgers and early on under Jurgen Klopp.
The Frenchman currently appears to be in the biggest dip of his Reds career. He missed the Europa League final thanks to a doping case, which both UEFA and WADA have now dropped, clearing him to continue with his football career, as well as suffering with an achilles injury all summer.
To make matters worse for Sakho, not only is he without form and fitness, Jurgen Klopp is reportedly open to losing the 26-year-old on loan, with Sunderland already rejecting the chance to sign him, according to the Daily Mail.
Although the report from the Mail suggests that the move would only be to allow Sakho to recover some form and fitness, sending a first choice centre-back out on loan for a season; especially one entering the prime of his career, normally suggests one thing – Sakho isn’t wanted and will eventually be sold.
To lose Sakho though, even on loan, would be a real mistake for Klopp. Whilst he may prefer the slightly less erratic hands of Ragnar Klavan on the left hand side of defence, the French international; despite his gangly style, is probably the best central defender at the club. He is strong, quick and intelligent, allowing him to flourish and turn Liverpool into a better defensive unit under Jurgen Klopp. Sakho should be allowed to regain his fitness and prove his worth in a Red shirt, as opposed being shipped to Sunderland.
One player who Liverpool are desperate to ship out, though, is striker Mario Balotelli, and Reds fans have received some positive news with a plea from fans of Italian club Palermo for the striker to join their club.
Some fans have created a banner designed to encourage the board of the Sicilian club to make a move for the unwanted striker, and will display it at Palermo’s next match in order to push the transfer through.
As for Balotelli, he desperately needs to rebuild his career away from Anfield, and a move back to Italy may be the best place for him to do so, especially at a club with reduced expectations as Palermo. He has always been talented, but now 26, he needs to go back home to try and rescue what is turning into a wasted career.
Another flop on his way out of the club is Luis Alberto, the young Spaniard who was signed in the summer of 2013 from Sevilla.
Alberto has spent the last two seasons out on loan, though, and that period could extend after reports that Liverpool accepted a loan offer from Fenerbahce for the out of favour forward.
However, there are contrary reports that Valencia have agreed a £2.6 million deal for Alberto, which would be a large loss on the £6 million Liverpool spent on him. However, it would come with the benefits of getting the Spaniard off the books for good.
Time will tell exactly where, but his future certainly lies away from Anfield.
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