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Liverpool have rejected a loan bid from Southampton for Mamadou Sakho.

The Saints enquired about the possibility of taking the French defender until the end of the season, but the Reds are only willing to sanction a permanent deal at this stage.

Sakho remains very much out of favour at Anfield, having not played a competitive match since last April.

He will be allowed to leave the club this month if a suitable offer is received, but Liverpool are determined to get a fee close to £20m.

A number of clubs have expressed an interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain man, including Premier League strugglers Swansea and Crystal Palace, as well as Spanish side Sevilla.

Southampton are in the market for a centre back with captain Jose Fonte having handed in a transfer request. Fonte is in talks over a potential move to West Ham.

Liverpool have already allowed one fringe centre back, Tiago Ilori, leave the club this month. The Portuguese U21 international completed his transfer to Reading on Wednesday.