With days until the January transfer window closes, Mamadou Sakho has spoken about his falling out with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The French centre-back – who was handed the No.3 shirt in pre-season after being the main man in Klopp’s defence last season until being banned by UEFA, a ban that was later overturned – admits he turned up late, breaking club rules.
“It is true that I turned up late,” Sakho said on Canal+ on Saturday night. “There was a rule that I should have observed. I do not at all see myself as above the rules, I respect everyone.
“I paid my fine, I was sanctioned, I apologised to my team-mates and my manager. Aside from that… I do not want to go into the controversies.”
Reports at the time suggested Sakho had been late for a flight and a team meeting and missed a rehab session, which prompted Klopp to send him home from America early.
After recovering from injury, Sakho initially trained alone at Melwood, but after an outburst on social media platform Snapchat in late September, Sakho has trained at the Reds’ academy base instead.
In his Snapchat he wrote about not being selected even for the Under-23s, so Klopp gave him that opportunity – but banishing him completely from the first-team picture from that moment on.
“I work a lot, I have the chance to train with the reserve team , which allows me to keep up,” said Sakho. “And beside that I have my trainer. So I work a lot to stay on top of my game.”
The 26-year-old has been linked with a host of clubs this month, as Liverpool seek a permanent sale, but reports have suggested some clubs have been put off by his wage demands.
Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Southampton are said to be among the clubs in England interested, while Spartak Moscow in Russia are also linked with a move.
Sakho seemed to indicate he wants to remain in England, saying: “Since I started this incredible adventure abroad, in terms of football but also in terms of my family, because when I see my children speaking English I think it is a glorious thing that I have been able to give them. I think I have a few more wonderful years to experience abroad first.”
It could be that Liverpool are forced to let Sakho go on loan, with the transfer window closing on Tuesday night.
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