Steve Mandanda appears to have moved to end all speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool by insisting that he’s staying at Olympique de Marseille.
Last month, French sources [via the Express] reported that the French giants were keen to offload their stopper—the latest departee in their considerable exodus—and were willing to sell him for £2.95 million.
The Express revealed that Liverpool were one of the sides to have been offered the player, who may have been considered as a potential upgrade to Simon Mignolet, who has never truly convinced since arriving from Sunderland in 2013.
However, as well as Liverpool, Goal also noted that Besiktas were considering the possibility of recruiting Mandanda during January, with the Black Eagles deliberating whether to move for the French international or Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk stopper Denys Boyko.
However, it appears as though both sides will be left disappointed, with the player himself issuing a statement [via Goal] in which he insists that he won’t be leaving OM…at least not just yet.
“My agent has revealed offers from different clubs to leave this January. We’ve studied these offers, I’ve weighed up the for and against, and what’s best for me.
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“And here’s what I’ve decided: I have chosen to stay at Olympique de Marseille until the end of the season. One of the key reasons which has pushed me to this choice is my attachment for Marseille.
“I have responsibilities, I am captain.”
While Mandanda’s statement means Liverpool will need to soldier on with Mignolet between the sticks for the time being, of more pressing concern for Jurgen Klopp is the shortage of fit centre-backs, with the Reds facing a defensive crisis following the bruising encounter with Stoke City [Daily Star].