Niakate Housseyni, agent to Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho, has rubbished speculation of a summer move away from Anfield for his client.
Sakho is currently receiving treatment on an Achilles injury at the club’s Melwood academy, after being controversially sent home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US.
With Jurgen Klopp citing the Frenchman’s attitude and timekeeping as reasons for his punishment, speculation mounted about a possible departure.
Despite Klopp’s assertion that Sakho wouldn’t be leaving Merseyside, however, reports in Italy suggested AS Roma were lining up a loan bid for the 2016/17 campaign.
But speaking to LaRoma24, Housseyni has reinforced Sakho’s commitment to Liverpool, saying he isn’t looking to leave.
“I have not had any contact with Roma,” he explained.
“He didn’t have an argument with his manager, Jurgen Klopp.
“So he’ll stay at Liverpool? Yes, he’s a Liverpool player. I don’t think Roma have that opportunity right now.”
This should come as positive news for Reds supporters, with both camps now seemingly declaring their intention to move past this pre-season disagreement and continue work together.
Sakho is due for talks with Klopp on the German’s return to Liverpool, after his side takes on Roma at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri on August 2.
These are likely to end amicably, and the 26-year-old can look to reassert himself on his recovery.
Sakho will miss the start of the 2016/17 season with his injury, and is joined by Joel Matip, Lucas Leiva and Joe Gomez on the treatment table.
This leaves Klopp with only Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Andre Wisdom as centre-back options at this stage, but the trio have all performed well so far this pre-season.
Klavan has provided a comfortable deputy to Sakho on the left-hand side of Klopp’s central pairing.
The Estonia captain possesses a similar ability on the ball that has given the Reds more incision during their warmup clashes in the US.
Whether he will keep his place when Matip and Sakho return, however, remains to be seen.
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