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Liverpool have signalled their intention to keep Mamadou Sakho at Anfield by opening talks with the defender over a new long-term contract.

The France international's future has been the subject of speculation after he was overlooked by Brendan Rodgers for the Reds' opening two Premier League matches against Stoke City and Bournemouth.

However, the Reds have rejected interest from both Roma and Bayer Leverkusen over the past week and have made it clear they have no intention of selling the 25-year-old centre-back.

Rodgers, who has selected Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel as his first choice centre-back pairing, wants Sakho to commit his future to the club.

The defender's current deal runs until 2017 and he will be offered a new five-year contract on improved terms.

Sakho, who cost Liverpool £18million from Paris St Germain two years ago, is unlikely to rush into a decision.

He's expected to wait and see how much game time he gets over the coming weeks and months before deciding whether to sign.

Sakho didn't even make the bench for Monday's win over Bournemouth with veteran Kolo Toure preferred among the substitutes.