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Liverpool have told Mamadou Sakho he needs to go out on loan in order to save his Anfield career.

The France international has already rejected the chance to join either Stoke City or West Brom on a temporary deal.

However, the Reds are still actively looking to loan the centre-back out prior to tomorrow night’s transfer deadline.

Jurgen Klopp has informed Sakho that he does have a future at Liverpool but he wants him to play regularly elsewhere over the coming months to prove both his fitness and his professionalism.

If Sakho, who hasn’t played for the Reds since the 4-0 rout of Everton on April 20, digs his heels in and stays put there’s a serious danger he will be stuck on the sidelines all season.

Klopp is happy with the centre-back options he has in Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan. The Reds boss also has Joe Gomez on the comeback trail after injury, while Lucas Leiva can provide defensive cover if required.

Sakho also needs regular action if he’s going to force his way back into Didier Deschamps’ France squad.

It’s been a torrid four months for the 26-year-old, who was accused by UEFA of failing a drugs test and missed Euro 2016 before being subsequently cleared.

The former Paris Saint-Germain captain was then sent home from the pre-season tour of America by Klopp for repeatedly breaking club rules. He was late for the team flight, late for a team meal and failed to turn up to a treatment session on an Achilles injury with Klopp accusing him of showing a lack of respect.

Sakho, who is now close to full fitness, was understood to be open to the idea of a loan spell. However, he expected bigger clubs than Stoke and West Brom to be keen on securing his services.

He may have to lower his sights over the next 24 hours and take Klopp’s advice if he’s serious about reparing the damage that’s been done to his Liverpool career.