France boss Didier Deschamps urges Mamadou Sakho to leave Liverpool

France manager Didier Deschamps has urged Mamadou Sakho to leave Liverpool in the January transfer window to resurrect his career.

The 26-year-old defender has been frozen out of the Reds squad by manager Jurgen Klopp after he refused to leave the club during the summer.

Sakho was reported to have rejected moves to West Brom, Stoke City and Turkish club Besiktas, despite being told by Klopp to prove himself at another club.

"There has to be another solution for him to find another club in the January window," Deschamps was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

Sakho angered Klopp by breaching discipline thrice during Liverpool's pre-season tour of North America – arriving late for a team flight, missing a team meal and skipping a treatment session in California.

He further antagonised the German coach by posting on social media in September to voice his frustrations at being frozen out of the squad.

The France international has not played since being banned for failing a drugs test late last season – a decision that was later reversed by Uefa who cleared him of doping charges.

Klopp said in September that Sakho had to work hard and maintain discipline to win back his place at Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Sakho's former club teammate Mario Balotelli urged the defender to consider joining him at Ligue 1 club Nice. "What a mess that a player like him does not play," Balotelli was quoted as saying by Goal.

"I played with Mama. He is one of the best defenders I have worked [with]. He should leave.

"If he wants to leave, I think that Nice can be a good thing. I'll talk to him. I'll do it, for the month of January? Yes, it would be good," he added.

Sakho made 22 league appearances for Liverpool last season, scoring one goal. He has four years left on his Anfield contract.