Mamadou Sakho: Liverpool defender sent home from pre-season tour, future in doubt

Reports suggest Jurgen Klopp had grown tired of the defender's attitude during the Reds' tour

Tuesday 26 July 2016 08:17 BST

Sakho during Liverpool's pre-season tour to America (Getty)

Mamadou Sakho’s Liverpool future hangs in the balance after Jurgen Klopp sent the defender home from America.

The France international will arrive back in the UK on Tuesday after Klopp made the decision to cut short his stay.

Speculation has emerged over the circumstances surrounding Sakho’s early departure.

The defender has been receiving treatment for an Achilles injury, which is expected to rule him out for the start of the Premier League, and it’s believed Klopp decided that the Frenchman must continue his rehabilitation back at Melwood training ground.

Despite being injured, Sakho was included in the travelling party to America as Klopp sought to foster team spirit of ahead of the new campaign, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

However, it’s also understood that the Reds boss has grown impatient with the Frenchman’s attitude during the pre-season tour.

Sakho turned up late for Liverpool’s flight to the United States while last weekend he interrupted an interview Klopp was conducting with the club website.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Show all 9

1/9Liverpool summer transfer targets

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Naby Keita

A difficult signing to pull off, but one that Liverpool are interested in making. Keita's dynamic performances in the centre of RB Leipzig's midfield have caught Klopp's eye, but also the attention of Bayern Munich, who are also monitoring the player.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Timo Werner

Werner scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga last season as his goals fired RB Leipzig to second place and a first-ever Champions League qualification. The German club are keen to keep him but money talks and Liverpool are desperate for an out-and-out goalscorer.

Bongarts/Getty Images

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Dusan Tadic

The Southampton attacker is out of favour on the south coast and desperate for a way out of the club. Liverpool are interested in him to provide competition and back-up to the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana with the added strain of European football.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Andrew Robertson

Given Hull's relegation to the Championship, Robertson is one of the players in the shop window. Left-backs are at the forefront of Klopp's transfer activity and Robertson will come fairly cheap.

Getty

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Somewhat surprising reports have arisen over recent weeks that Chamberlain will be a Liverpool player next season. A disappointing season for Arsenal has left their squad in disarray, and it is thought that the 23 year-old midfielder is seeking a new challenge. The player’s versatility across midfield positions is an appealing to Klopp, who will need added squad depth. Arsenal will not be keen to sell to a rival, but if the rumours are to be believed, Chamberlain has his heart set on the Merseyside club and a £35 million transfer could well be on the cards.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Douglas Costa

The 26 year old Brazilian winger has gained plaudits for his performances at the German champions, yet the player stated earlier in the season that he is ‘not that happy’, presumably at missing out to Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben regularly. He would cost upwards of £25 million and have plenty of suitors, meaning Liverpool are simply one of many clubs he could choose from, although he did recently ‘like’ a tweet from a Liverpool fan about the possibility of him joining the club. There is also a chance that Costa is happy in Munich but is seeking an improved deal, which would come as no real surprise.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Ryan Sessegnon

Sessegnon is a long-term option at left-back for Liverpool with the 17-year-old lighting up the Championship with Fulham. With only Alberto Moreno, who is expected to leave, and James Milner available in that position, Klopp wants to bring in at least two. He faces competition from Manchester United and Tottenham though.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The most speculative target on the list is Gabon forward Aubameyang, who became a household name under Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund. Constant questions over his future are expected to culminate in a move this summer, and while his former boss will no doubt be interested, European giants Real Madrid are circling and thought to be his preferred destination. While the versatile Roberto Firmino has had a good season deployed as Liverpool’s first choice striker and Divock Origi a promising talent, they still lack a world class centre forward like Aubameyang. Dortmund CEO Hanz-Joachim Watzke stated earlier this year that the striker, who has three years to run on his contract, would only leave ‘for an outrageous fee’.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Jonas Hector

A player Klopp will know well, the 26 year-old is thought to be a serious option with the manager unconvinced by Alberto Moreno. James Milner has deputised brilliantly this season but an out-and-out left back is a priority for the summer. Hector has earned 27 caps for Germany since 2014 and is known for his excellent positional understanding and for putting in accurate crosses. It is thought he would cost in excess of £20 million, which could be well worth it for a good player approaching his prime years.

The German jokingly threatened to leave Sakho behind on Alcatraz Island but it’s believed the relationship between the two has since deteriorated, prompting Klopp to take disciplinary action against his defender.

Liverpool have declined to comment on the incident, other than to confirm that Sakho has returned home to the UK.

This follows a turbulent period for the France international who was cleared of a doping violation by Uefa earlier this month.

The governing body’s control, ethics and disciplinary body dropped the charge against him after Sakho’s legal team successfully argued that he had not taken any illegal substances.

He had been hit with a three month suspension at the end of last season which saw him miss out on Liverpool’s Europa League final against Sevilla as well as Euro 2016.

But despite being cleared of the offence, it seems there could be more troubled times ahead for Sakho.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies