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| Mamadou Sakho is close to agreeing a new five-year deal |
MAMADOU SAKHO is close to agreeing a new five-year contract at Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers considers handing him a Premier League return.
The France defender’s representatives are due to hold talks with chief executive Ian Ayre today in a meeting planned before Sakho returned to Liverpool’s line-up in the Europa League stalemate with Bordeaux.
Sakho has slipped behind Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel in Rodgers’ plans, but made his first appearance of the season in the European tie and Liverpool see his future as being on Merseyside.
Loan offers from AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen for the 25-year-old were rejected and Sakho is now poised to make a long-term commitment to Liverpool.
The centre-back has two years remaining on his existing deal, signed when he moved to Anfield from Paris Saint Germain in August 2013 for £16m, but a new deal would run until 2020.
He could now come into the reckoning for tomorrow’s critical league game with Norwich at Anfield which would be his first start Premier League since the 6-1 mauling by Stoke on the final day of last term.
“I'm always ready,” said Sakho. “I'm working and I'm a Liverpool soldier. And, when you call on me, I always rise to the challenge.”
Rodgers hailed Sakho’s performance against Bordeaux and said: “Sakho was immense at the back. He knows he has had to be patient and his attitude has been first class.
“He has trained very well, kept professional, done his extra work on his fitness and he has got his rewards for that.
“He certainly comes into the reckoning for the weekend against Norwich.”
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