Mamadou Sakho told by Liverpool to find new club before transfer window shuts or forget playing this season

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Liverpool have told Mamadou Sakho he must find another club before the transfer window closes if he wants to play any football this season.

The France international discovered last week that he was free to find another club on loan but he has turned down an opportunity to join Stoke. 

Mark Hughes was disappointed by that development and confirmed after his side's 1-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday that their interest in him had come to nothing.

Mamadou Sakho discovered last week that he was free to find another club on loan

Sakho did not want to move to the Potteries and it has also emerged that he has turned down interest from West Brom, who were eager to buy him.

West Brom would have been prepared to pay as much as £20million for Sakho, who cost Liverpool £18m when he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain three years ago, but he had no ambition to go to The Hawthorns.

But his refusal to consider other opportunities leaves him in a difficult position. There is no chance he will play for Liverpool this year, as Jurgen Klopp's preferred first-choice defensive pairing is Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip.

Ragnar Klavan was brought from Augsburg to provide cover, while Lucas Leiva is a player whom Klopp will use as a central defender. Joe Gomez is also close to returning from injury and he will figure.

That leaves Sakho as sixth choice and if he wants to return to play for France, the only logical conclusion would be for him to find a new club before Wednesday night.

Klopp sent Sakho home early from Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States after he breached club discipline on three separate occasions, but the manager is not prepared to jettison him from the club permanently.

He believes Sakho can still have a future at Anfield but only if he goes out on loan and shows that he has recaptured his form and fitness and is prepared to knuckle down again.

A number of other Premier League clubs are monitoring Sakho's position and it has been made clear to the 26-year-old that it would be beneficial and advisable to accept one of the offers that comes his way. 

Liverpool's centre-back has turned down interest from Stoke City and West Brom