Liverpool transfers: ‘Mamadou Sakho wasn’t a marquee signing’
Liverpool transfers: Former Reds midfielder Jan Molby insists Brendan Rodgers missed out on a marquee signing this summer
Brendan Rodgers took over at Anfield in May 2012Photo: Back Page Images
Brendan Rodgers took over at Anfield in May 2012Photo: Back Page Images
Jan Molby has claimed Mamadou Sakho does not count as a marquee signing for Liverpool this summer.
Brendan Rodgers spent £15m to bring the France international to the Merseyside outfit from Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day earlier this week.
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre hailed the centre-half’s arrival as a very top signing for the 18-time English champions despite missing out on other big-names in the transfer window.
But former Reds midfielder Molby insists the 23-year-old does not count as a “marquee signing”.
“When you kick off the season with three successive clean sheets, it’s a little bit surprising to see two centre-backs added to the squad on transfer deadline day,” Molby told Liverpool Echo.
“But Mamadou Sakho and Thiago Ilori can be excellent acquisitions for the club – even if they do pose questions about the long-term prospects of Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure.
“Sakho might have cost £15m – but he isn’t the marquee signing we’ve chased all summer.”
Sakho’s arrival leaves Martin Skrtel’s long-term Liverpool future in doubt after the Slovakia international had been linked with a move to Napoli in the summer.
While Molby has reservations about Sakho, the Dane believes the centre-half will prove a hit if the Frenchman can rediscover his PSG form from a couple of years ago.
“If Sakho can get back to the player he was when he first broke into senior football he will do well for us,” Molby added.
“Something obviously went wrong when you look at where he was at the age of 17, but he is still only 23 and if he can recapture that early form will flourish.
“He is big, strong, quick – all the attributes needed to succeed in thePremier League – and was a captain of PSG at just 17.
“He’s one for the future. Whether Skrtel still has a future at Anfield only time will tell.”
Brendan Rodgers spent £15m to bring the France international to the Merseyside outfit from Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day earlier this week.
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre hailed the centre-half’s arrival as a very top signing for the 18-time English champions despite missing out on other big-names in the transfer window.
But former Reds midfielder Molby insists the 23-year-old does not count as a “marquee signing”.
“When you kick off the season with three successive clean sheets, it’s a little bit surprising to see two centre-backs added to the squad on transfer deadline day,” Molby told Liverpool Echo.
“But Mamadou Sakho and Thiago Ilori can be excellent acquisitions for the club – even if they do pose questions about the long-term prospects of Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure.
“Sakho might have cost £15m – but he isn’t the marquee signing we’ve chased all summer.”
Sakho’s arrival leaves Martin Skrtel’s long-term Liverpool future in doubt after the Slovakia international had been linked with a move to Napoli in the summer.
While Molby has reservations about Sakho, the Dane believes the centre-half will prove a hit if the Frenchman can rediscover his PSG form from a couple of years ago.
“If Sakho can get back to the player he was when he first broke into senior football he will do well for us,” Molby added.
“Something obviously went wrong when you look at where he was at the age of 17, but he is still only 23 and if he can recapture that early form will flourish.
“He is big, strong, quick – all the attributes needed to succeed in thePremier League – and was a captain of PSG at just 17.
“He’s one for the future. Whether Skrtel still has a future at Anfield only time will tell.”
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