Mamadou Sakho is deciding between two clubs in his Liverpool exit plans.
The France international will secure his departure from Anfield before the transfer window closes on January 31 following months in the wilderness.
Sakho was banished from the Reds’ first-team set up by Jurgen Klopp after being sent home from breaking rules on the club’s pre-season tour of America in July.
Several clubs expressed an interest in taking on the 26-year-old, with Sevilla, Swansea City and Galatasaray all emerging as potential suitors for the player.
But Sakho has now reportedly whittled down his choices to just two sides.
Le 10 Sport claim that Southampton and Spartak Moscow are the current forerunners in the race to land the former Paris Saint-Germain captain.
Claude Puel’s side will travel to Anfield for tonight’s EFL Cup semi-final but have identified Sakho as their preferred replacement for Jose Fonte, who joined West Ham last week.
The centre-back is understood to have made staying in the Premier League his priority, which has boosted the Saints’ chances of edging out Russian giants Spartak.