Should Mamadou Sakho leave Liverpool on loan?

By grvadmin

When Liverpool were charging through the latter stages of the Europa League last season, knocking out teams such as Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, the centre-back partnership of Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho was a revelation. Now, at the start of the next season, that partnership seems a mile away. With a day left in the transfer window, we could even see Sakho playing at another club on loan, in order to save his career.

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It all seemed to happen so fast. One minute, Sakho was scoring bullet headers and then the next minute, and several signings and suspected behavioural issues later, his position was gone. Now, Lovren has a new partnership in the form of Joel Matip, with the summer addition of Ragnar Klavan also ahead of the Frenchman in the pecking order. It has been rumoured that Jurgen Klopp wants Sakho to leave, but should he do it?

In truth, it would be a very strange decision to stay. Looking from the outside, Sakho has been replaced by two centre-backs, in the form of Matip and Ragnar Klavan, and surely if a manager tells you to go then it just makes sense?

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Sakho could play for Sunderland for the remainder of the season, according to reports. In the case of the North East outfit, that would be a good replacement for Lamine Kone should he leave, or a good partnership if he stays. Sakho could become the strong centre-back that would be ideal for a team whose first priority; according to their manager, is to stay up. A year on loan at Sunderland could open up the door for a potential return to Liverpool, and for France.

Sakho was a popular figure in the French back-line, especially during his days as a PSG player. After missing the Euros, and considering how strong the French are in terms of centre-backs, Sakho could find himself thrown aside by the national team as well as his club side. All signs are pointing to the fact that Sakho needs first team football to show his worth, right away.

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Of course, he could stay and try and provide Klopp with a problem. Good performances in training, good attitude, fight and spirit could really persuade the manager to reignite the partnership with Lovren. However, the signing of Matip; which was completed in January, suggested that Klopp never truly fancied Sakho and was always looking for something else.

No matter how good the Lovren-Sakho partnership was, did Klopp ever truly fancy it? Add in the fact he had to throw Sakho off the pre-season tour, and there’s even more reason to suspect that Klopp is very focused on not having Sakho around, and when have we ever seen a top manager change his mind?

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Anne-Laure Prin