BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 23, 2016: Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho in action against Everton during the Mini-Derby FA Premier League 2 Under-23 match at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Rumour Mill: Galatasaray make £850,000 loan offer for Mamadou Sakho

Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray have set their sights on Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho, with a view to a January loan.

Sakho is likely to leave Merseyside this month, with the Frenchman completely out of favour under Jurgen Klopp, spending the first half of the season with the Liverpool U23s.

A number of clubs have been mooted as possible destinations for the 26-year-old, including Inter Milan, AC Milan and West Bromwich Albion.

However, Sakho could be offered the chance to follow his former defensive partner, Martin Skrtel, to Turkey, according to local publication AMK Sport.

Manager Jan Olde Riekerink is said to be targeting defensive reinforcement in the winter window, with a loan offer for Sakho discussed with the club’s board and presented to Liverpool.

This would include an £850,000 fee, to take Sakho to the Turk Telekom Arena for the rest of the season.

Galatasaray attempted to broker a deal to sign Lucas Leiva in the summer, but Klopp moved to scupper the deal, with the Brazilian now a target for Inter.

Whether Sakho ends up with Galatasaray remains to be seen, however, with Liverpool believed to be seeking a permanent transfer.

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 3, 2016: Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho, with dyed blonde hair, in action against Leicester City during the Premier League International Cup match at St. George's Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

This underlines Sakho’s bleak future if he remains at Anfield, with no sign of the ex-Paris Saint Germain captain forcing his way back into the 49-year-old’s plans.

A move to Turkey could revitalise Sakho’s prospects, as witnessed by Skrtel’s positive form in 2016/17 so far.

The Slovak has made 27 appearances for the Yellow Canaries this season, losing just five, with Fenerbahce fourth in the Super Lig table having taken 31 points from 16 games.

He was an ever-present in the league until Boxing Day, when suspension kept him out of a 3-0 win over Trabzonspor.

Sakho could see Skrtel’s progress at Fenerbahce as an example of the possibilities of joining a Super Lig side—though if he were to move to Galatasaray, the pair would become rivals.

Though Klopp has clearly taken exception to Sakho’s attitude in exiling him from his first-team squad at Liverpool, the No. 3 remains a hugely talented player.

Wherever Sakho ends up in January, he is likely to shine, as a proven, top-level centre-back.

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