Mamadou Sakho named in Liverpool's Premier League squad after rejecting summer exit

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has named Mamadou Sakho in his 25-man Premier League squad, despite offering the player the chance to leave this summer.

Sakho, 26, was sent home from the club's pre-season tour of the United States for disciplinary reasons and was advised to find a new club before the closure of the summer transfer window. Stoke City were reported to harbour a firm interest in the France international, but according to L'Equipe, Sakho turned down all offers to leave to try to fight his way back into contention at Anfield.

The former Paris Saint-Germain defender will now remain at the club until at least January and stands a chance of reclaiming his spot, having been included in the official squad list for the 2016-17 campaign.

Sakho, who nursed an Achilles injury throughout the summer, was sent home early from the US tour after breaking club rules. The centre-half was late for team meetings on three occasions and while Klopp said at the time the incidents were "not that serious", he felt they showed a lack of "respect".

He explained: "But it's not that serious. It is how I said, we have some rules and we have to respect them. If somebody doesn't respect it, or somebody gives me the feeling he is not respecting it, then I have to react, that's all."

Sakho is currently fourth-choice behind Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan and could drop further down the pecking order when Joe Gomez returns from injury.

Tiago Ilori is also among the club's options at the back having also been included in the Reds' Premier League squad. The former Granada, Bordeaux and Aston Villa loanee was made available by Liverpool this summer but according to the Daily Mail, the club was only willing to let him go on a permanent basis for a respectable fee.

The London-born Portugal Under-21 international is now likely to spend most of the season with the club's Under-23 ranks.