Liverpool transfer news: Southampton readying swoop for Reds outcast Mamadou Sakho after French defender insists on staying in Premier League
Jurgen Klopp is desperate to offload controversial defender, but the French ace wants to stay in the country with Saints keen
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LIVERPOOL outcast Mamadou Sakho is set to be handed a Premier League lifeline by Southampton.
The French defender, 26, has been frozen out since the summer after firstly failing a drugs test and then falling out with Reds chief Jurgen Klopp.
With a host of clubs, including Milan giants AC and Inter, interested in Sakho, Liverpool have been quick to say they will accept any deal - loan or full transfer - in a bid to offload the player.
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According to reports from L'Equipe in France, Sakho is set to snub Galatasaray - who themselves are readying a deal - in order to joining Southampton.
Claude Puel's club are facing something of a defensive crisis as club captain and centre-back Jose Fonte has handed in a transfer request, in his bid to force a move to Manchester United.
On top of that, Virgil van Dijk has made a name for himself this season as one of the league's top defenders, attracting the attention of a host of European giants.
With both starting centre-backs set to leave the club as early as this month, Puel will be desperate to bring some Premier League quality to the back four.
Sakho enjoyed a solid spell towards the end of last season as Liverpool rose up the Premier League table and he was a crucial cog in beating Borussia Dortmund to reach the Europa League final, losing to Sevilla.
However, following his failed drugs test - with charges subsequently dropped - Sakho fell out with Klopp following a bizarre Snapchat rant during the club's pre-season tour of America.
He has failed to log a single minute of first-team action since, settling for a handful of Under-23 appearances.
Sakho has racked up 80 appearances for Liverpool since joining in 2013 from Paris Saint-Germain, netting three times.
Keep up to date with our live transfer blog, including murmurings of Sakho's impending move, here...