Stoke City are keen on a deal to bring Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho to the club, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Frenchman has missed a large portion of football over the past few months, after being suspended by UEFA for the latter part of last season, after testing positive for a fat-burning substance.
Despite now being cleared (according to the same publication), the arrivals of Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan at Anfield have further bolstered Jurgen Klopp’s defensive ranks.
With that in mind, the report claims that the Potters are hopeful of securing a loan deal for the 26-year-old before the close of the transfer window.
Mark Hughes has already lured Joe Allen away from Anfield this summer, though Egyptian winger Ramadan Sobhi has been the only other major arrival.
While the Reds are understood to be keen on keeping the former Paris Saint-Germain ace on Merseyside long-term, the report suggests Hughes is confident on sealing a season-long deal.
Sakho was sent home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States amid questions about his attitude, though had been finding some of his best form prior to his suspension.
Not the most elegant to watch, the Les Blues international emerged as a resolute defender in a shaky defence under the stewardship of the charismatic German coach.
Can Sakho continue on his upward trajectory after so long out? Let us know below!