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Liverpool’s pursuit of another centre-back this summer is likely to hinge on UEFA’s verdict on Mamadou Sakho.

The Reds are still waiting for confirmation from the governing body over whether the French centre-back faces any further punishment following a failed drugs test.

Sakho was handed a provisional 30-day ban by UEFA in April after testing positive for a fat burner but that elapsed last month.

It emerged that in the defence submitted by Sakho he questioned whether the substance in the supplement he took should even be on the prohibited list given some apparent scientific evidence on its effects.

Rather than set a date for a hearing to consider the case, UEFA decided not to extend the player’s provisional suspension and instead ordered their own disciplinary body to investigate whether the substance should be banned.

UEFA have yet to reveal the outcome of that investigation so Liverpool remain in the dark over whether Sakho will be available from the start of the 2016/17 campaign. The Reds had initially feared that the defender would be facing a ban of between six months and two years.

As it stands Sakho is free to resume his career but France coach Didier Deschamps opted not to select him for Euro 2016 as the fallout from the failed test rumbles on.

UEFA’s chief medical and doping officer Marc Vouillamoz claimed last week that Sakho himself had asked to be temporarily suspended when he learned of the doping violation and that they had simply agreed to his request.

The outcome of UEFA’s investigation will have an impact on Liverpool’s transfer plans as Jurgen Klopp considers whether to bring in another centre-back.

Martin Skrtel is set to join Fenerbahce for £5.5million and Kolo Toure is leaving the Reds on a free transfer.

New signing Joel Matip will arrive from Schalke and the Cameroon international will compete with Dejan Lovren, Sakho and Joe Gomez for the central defensive spots.

Four centre-backs should be sufficient as Liverpool head into a season when they won’t have European football to clutter the schedule.

However, if UEFA were to issue Sakho with a further ban then Klopp would have to dip into the market to strengthen his backline options.

Gomez is highly regarded by Klopp and the 19-year-old England Under-21 international is on the comeback after eight months out with a ruptured cruciate ligament.

After so long out he’s unlikely to be ready to be thrown straight into Premier League action come mid-August but Klopp is excited about working with him.

Gomez has been linked with a loan move to Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic but Liverpool are planning for the season ahead with the youngster on board.