The Reds rejected a shock loan bid from Roma on Saturday for centre-back Mamadou Sakho – as the Liverpool Echo report – after the Frenchman missed out selection for our opening game of the new Premier League season.
Sakho did not even make the bench for Sunday’s 1-0 win over Stoke City, with Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren seemingly our first choice centre-back pairing for at least the time being.
That seemingly led Roma to believe that they could lure the Reds into doing a deal for the 25-year-old, who they wanted to take for the next twelve months, but their approach has been firmly turned down.
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However, with Brendan Rodgers admitting during his Saturday press conference that fringe players – something Sakho arguably is at this moment in time – could be allowed to leave before the close of the transfer window, it’s worth considering the possibility that the former Paris Saint Germain could be moving on.
“I think it’s natural at this stage of the season, there will be moves I’m sure for some players,” Rodgers told the Echo. “What’s clear is that every player has the understanding of exactly where they stand within the squad.”
If Sakho were to decide that he could get more chances at another club – be that at Roma or elsewhere – would we stand in his way? If we were to let him go, who would we bring in to replace him? While the vast majority of us want Sakho to stay, it’s always worth keeping an eye on some up and coming players that could come in.
We list six potential candidates in the list below:
6) Aymen Abdennour (AS Monaco)
A player that has been sporadically linked with Liverpool this summer – such as here by the Daily Express. Of course, nothing has come of those rumours thus far, due to our less than overwhelming need for a new centre-back. But if Sakho were to leave, that could all change, and this would likely be the first man to hit most of the tabloid headlines. The 26-year-old is a Tunisian international and was a key member of the Monaco side that reached the last eight of the Champions League last season – beating Arsenal on the way to the quarter-finals.
5) Nicolas N’koulou (Marseille)
The 25-year-old Cameroon international is one of the highest rated defenders in the French league right now. He helped his side finish fourth last season, sealing a spot in the Europa League, but he could well see his future at a higher level. He’s been linked with Arsenal in the past (via talkSPORT) and would be something of a coup if we were to take him. He’s won an impressive 63 caps for his country and has already played at two different World Cups. The former Monaco man is strong in the tackle and would fit well with Rodgers’ passing philosophy.
4) Kamil Glik (Torino)
At 27 years old, he’s the most experienced man on this list. The Polish international has been with Italian minnows Torino since 2011, helping them earn promotion from the second division, establish themselves as a Serie A side and win a spot in last year’s Europa League. He’s played more than 100 times for them in total but could possibly be tempted into taking on a new challenge, if a Premier League side as ourselves were to come knocking. He stays on his feet well when holding up opposition strikers and is renowned for his excellent passing abilities.
3) Stefan de Vrij (Lazio)
First shot to prominence at the World Cup last summer, where he helped the Netherlands reach the semi-final stage and eventually finish third. He earned a move from Feyenoord to Lazio off the back of those performances and had a solid first season in Italy, helping his club side finish third, scoring them a long-awaited return to Champions League football. He’s still young, at 23, and would be a good long-term option. He keeps his concentration well and can always be relied upon to make crucial interceptions, as he steps up at the right time.
2) Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao)
One of the most sought after young defenders on the planet. The 21-year-old comes with a reputation that is getting better and better with each passing week. He’s already racked up 83 league appearances for his club side and was part of the team that beat Barcelona 4-0 on Friday in the Spanish Super Cup, keeping the likes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi firmly at bay. He’s also capable of playing left-back, where we’re arguably a little short on options, with only Joe Gomez, Alberto Moreno and Jose Enrique currently for Brendan Rodgers to pick from.
1) Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia)
The Argentine has been widely linked to Manchester United in this window but, for now, he remains up for grabs (via Daily Star) – no doubt the Reds would love to get one over on our rivals by taking this one right off their toes. The 25-time international played 35 times in La Liga last season, scoring six goals, an excellent return for a defender. He’s previously won three league titles in Portugal with Porto, as well as the Europa League in 2011, and at 27 he should be at the peak of his powers. He’s excellent in the air and always puts his body on the line.
