Forget Sakho – Here Are 3 Super Replacements For Jurgen Klopp And Liverpool To Consider

The year 2016 has been a bad one for French defender Mamadou Sakho. First, it started out with a poor run of form under Jurgen Klopp. That later culminated with a failed drugs test, which meant he was suspended from training with the Liverpool first team squad. It also meant that he had to miss Euro 2016 on his home soil. Clearly, that would’ve been a blow to his confidence.

Following these developments, he got into the bad books of Jurgen Klopp by not respecting the rules that had been put in place for the squad. Sakho was late for a flight, as well as turning up late for a medical session and a team meal. All these weren’t taken too lightly by Klopp and he sanctioned Sakho by demoting him from the senior squad.

At 26, it is not the end of the road for Sakho. He should look to move on to a club that is willing to give him a chance to get his footballing career back on track. As far as Liverpool are concerned, if Sakho leaves, they will only be left with Lovren, Matip and Klavan as senior centre back options. This is something that will worry Klopp and he could look to dip into the transfer market to bring in a replacement for the Frenchman.

Here are 3 replacements for Mamadou Sakho that make perfect sense –

Jonathan Tah

Tah moved to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015 from Hamburg and has since gone on to establish himself as the best young centre-back in Germany. As a modern defender, he has excellent distribution and confidence to bring the ball out from defence, something Klopp will truly relish.

At 190.5 cm (6′ 3″), Tah is very strong and fast, making him a difficult proposition for opposing strikers to overcome. Still only 20, Tah looks he could be the next big thing to come out of German football. He has already been called up to the National team and was even part of the Euro 2016 squad that finished the tournament as semi-finalists. Jurgen Klopp would truly enjoy nurturing the talents of a young German international and Jonathan Tah fits the bill perfectly. After all, he has all the characteristics to be successful in the Premier League.

Inigo Martinez

One of the key attributes Liverpool will be losing if Sakho leaves is the Frenchman’s ability to operate as a left-sided centre-back. With left-footed defenders something of a rare commodity, Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez would provide a comfortable alternative.

Martinez is in his sixth season as a first-team regular in San Sebastian, and could prove difficult to price from La Real, but would be an excellent signing for the Reds. Blessed with a high tactical intelligence and reading of the game, Martinez is a refined, modern centre-back, but despite standing at 5’11”, he is also physically adept, and a move to the Premier League would likely suit his talents.

Jairo Riedewald

Another left-footed centre back, Riedewald is one more off the Ajax production line. He is intelligent on and off the ball and is able to combine this with his agility and speed. All qualities that will see him fit into Liverpool effortlessly.  This makes him one of the top young centre-halves in Europe and Klopp should look to bring him in to ease his side’s defensive woes.

He has been compared to Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard for a reason and should the 20-year-old continue to improve over the next couple of seasons, it would not be surprising to see him turn out for Barcelona. He would fit in there perfectly no doubts about that, but Liverpool should look to bring him in before the other top sides come in for his services. His ability to play at left-back might also appeal to Liverpool, who have been depending on the versatile feet of James Milner to do a job there.