Why would a club that’s just conceded five goals in two Premier League matches even consider loaning out an international defender who, when fit last term, was definitely the best we had available?
It doesn’t make any sense, which suggests to us there’s more to the story. The word that’s been given to the respected Liverpool journalists is that Mamadou Sakho still has a future at Anfield long term; he just needs a spell away from the club to play regularly and get his head straight.
Chris Bascombe wrote in his Telegraph column:
“A short-term arrangement would be seen as beneficial to the player and the club, allowing him to get back to the levels required to compete for his first team place.”
Tony Barrett intimated as much in this tweet, too:
Liverpool are considering allowing Mamadou Sakho to go out on loan as they look to get the defender back on track.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) 22 August 2016
We’re not buying it, frankly.
Since when did top teams send top defenders on loan, when their defence is shaky at best and downright shoddy at worst?
Sakho has endured a difficult six month period. First, he was wrongly banned for ingesting a ‘banned substance’ which wasn’t on the banned list, but missed our Europa League Final and Euro 2016 while the authorities figured that out. He might sue, but compensation won’t turn back time and give him back those memories.
Then, a heel injury cut him down at the start of summer, meaning he missed the entirety of pre-season. Finally – Sakho was sent home by Jurgen Klopp from the American tour for repeated lateness.
So here we are. He’s dealt with the drugs ban, he’s got himself fit again and he’s promised not to let himself or the club down again – as he clearly did stateside.
If Klopp’s had enough of him and wants rid; fine. Sell him. There’ll be plenty of suitors and we should trust the German’s judgement, even if we don’t fully agree. But to loan him? Utterly senseless.
If we want to reintegrate Sakho into our side he should frankly be put back into the team once fully fit. How will a temporary spell at another club increase a 26-year-old’s chances of ultimately succeeding on Merseyside?
When youngsters are loaned out, clubs often do have plans for their eventual reintegration. This works. But when big money signings and established internationals are loaned out, it’s the beginning of the end.
If we loan the much-loved Frenchman – we’re going into a full season with Dejan Lovren (DEJAN LOVREN) as our only Premier League experienced centre-half. Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip are unproven and untested, while Joe Gomez is a kid.
Whatever Sakho did in America, it’s right royally messed up his relationship with Klopp and his backroom team. That much is surely obvious.