Liverpool: Reds reject loan bid from Roma for defender Mamadou Sakho

Liverpool have reportedly rejected loan bid from AS Roma for defender Mamadou Sakho. This is despite the player not being part of the first-team squad for its clash against Stoke City on 9 August.

The French international defender, who was first choice last season, has seemingly fallen down the pecking order and now finds himself behind Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren, who are Brendan Rodgers' preferred choice at the heart of the Liverpool back four.

Sakho was not part of the matchday squad for the Merseyside club's opening Premier League fixture against Stoke City, but the report in the Liverpool Echo claims that the club are not looking to offload the French defender, who joined the Reds from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 for a fee of around £18m.

Roma are keen to sign a defender to fill the void left by Alessio Romagnoli, who left the club to join Serie A giants AC Milan in a reported £18m deal. It is claimed that the Italian capital club made an offer of a loan with a view to a permanent move next summer, but it was flatly rejected by the Anfield outfit.

The Northern Irishman has admitted that he is satisfied with the central defenders at his disposal, with Joe Gomez his fourth centre-back, but the former Charlton man is currently being preferred at left-back by the manager ahead of Alberto Moreno.

Rodgers, however, has indicated that there will be more movement within the club during the ongoing transfer window, with players, who are keen to play regularly expected to leave.

"It is natural at this stage of the season there will be moves for sure for some players. What is clear is that every player understands exactly where he stands in the squad," Rodgers said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"The spirit is strong but of course it is a difficult situation with the transfer market still being open until the end of the month."

"There is always going to be that speculation, but I am sure there will be movement of some of the players that obviously want to play," the former Swansea City boss added.