Liverpool transfer news: Jurgen Klopp tells Mario Balotelli he has no future at Anfield

Defender Mamadou Sakho ruled out of the start of the season through injury after being given all-clear from Uefa over drug test

Mario Balotelli has been told to look for a new club by Jurgen Klopp (Getty)

Jürgen Klopp has confirmed that he has told Mario Balotelli that he has no future at Liverpool, while Mamadou Sakho is likely to miss the start of the new Premier League season through injury.

Klopp insists Balotelli has trained well since returning to Melwood for pre-season, describing some of the 25-year-old’s abilities as “world class.”

“But he’s not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five other players for one or two positions,” Klopp reasoned.

The German hopes to be able to use Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings in Liverpool’s forward positions and with the club not competing in Europe, he believes there is no need for a fifth striker.

Klopp admitted Balotelli is training in order to maintain his fitness in preparation for a move elsewhere but he refused to say whether one was currently impending.

He also revealed that an Achilles injury means Sakho, will not be available when Liverpool start their new campaign at Arsenal in August.

The French defender has been suspended for the last three months after an abnormal urine sample was detected during a drugs test in the aftermath of Liverpool’s Europa League victory over Manchester United in March.

Although the World Anti Doping Agency might pursue the issue further, Uefa have since explained that Sakho had no case to answer.

Klopp described Sakho’s experience as “a sad story.” After missing the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla, he was also absent from the French squad that reached the final of the European Championship.