Liverpool have told Mamadou Sakho to accept a loan deal or risk his Anfield career.
Sakho continues to resist offers of short-term deals from several Premier League clubs, including West Brom and Stoke City, ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
The 26-year-old has been warned by Anfield officials that he risks a season on the sidelines due to the enhanced level of competition this summer.
Since he last appeared for Liverpool in April’s 4-0 win over Everton, Sakho has fallen down the pecking order to Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan.
His prospects have been further diminished by Joe Gomez’s return from injury and midfielder Lucas Leiva’s versatility to also deputise at centre-back.
Jurgen Klopp wants the France international to pursue a brief spell away from the Reds in order to provide a stern challenge alongside those in the defensive ranks.
But Sakho remains intent holding out for a larger stature of club despite the threat it brings to his long-term future at the club following a turbulent four months.
A failed UEFA drugs test saw him miss out on featuring in both the Europa League final and his country’s place in the Euro 2016 showpiece last month.
European football’s governing body cleared Sakho of doping but it was followed by his expulsion from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of America for what Klopp described as multiple breaches of club rules.