After turning away a number of different offers for his services throughout the summer, word leaked that Liverpool had offered defender Mamadou Sakho a new contract that would not only improve on his current deal, but tie him down to the Anfield outfit for the foreseeable future.
Seemingly outside of boss Brendan Rodgers first team plans, the 25-year old made only a few brief appearances during pre-season and was left out of the squad completely for the first two Premier League games of the season which inevitably lead to questions about his future on Merseyside. With one eye firmly on next summers European Championship, Sakho, who was omitted from the French squad for their most recent round of internationals, looked set to leave in search of first team football, but after captaining the Reds to a draw with Bordeaux in the Europa League on Thursday, the big man threw down the gauntlet and committed his long term future to Liverpool.
“I am very happy to sign a long-term contract with Liverpool because, as I’ve always said, I am very happy here and my family are happy in Liverpool,” he told the official website. “I will keep working because I am a Liverpool soldier and when Liverpool need me, I try to give my best. I am happy to stay as a Scouser!” enthused the Frenchman. “I work all the time 100 per cent, I try to stay professional and I give my best for this city and this club,” continued Sakho. “It is important for me because every day when I wake up, I am very happy to come into the training ground with all the players.”
With the Reds shipping six goals in the past two matches, Rodgers may be keen to try something different at the back with what’s believed to be his preferred central pairing of Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren once again proving to be error-prone and lacking in composure both on and off the ball. The Northern Irishman, who was full of praise for Sakho following the draw with Bordeaux, said he’d earned consideration for a starting spot against Norwich City on Sunday and that could be the perfect way to reward a top player for committing himself to the cause.
