Liverpool Transfer News: Huge Mamadou Sakho Contract Planned, Latest Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly set to open talks with centre-back Mamadou Sakho over a new contract amid talks that the Frenchman may depart Anfield.

Sakho has been omitted from the squad by manager Brendan Rodgers for the first two matches of the new Premier League season, and both Roma and Bayer Leverkusen have registered interest in signing the 25-year-old, per the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce.

However, the Reds are now looking to ensure Sakho's future is on Merseyside by offering him a new contract and increasing his weekly wage from £75,000 to around £100,000, per Dominic King in the Daily Mail.

Per Pearce, Sakho's current deal runs until 2017 and the offer on the table would run for five years.

It is far from guaranteed that Sakho will sign the new deal as he is apparently concerned about his lack of game time, per French outlet L'Equipe (h/t football writer Matt Spiro):

"

Mamadou Sakho concerned about his playing time and considering his future at #Liverpool. Bayer Leverkusen ready to offer €10m (L'Equipe)

— Matt Spiro (@mattspiro) August 19, 2015"

As King notes, Sakho needs first-team action in order to maintain his spot in the French national team ahead of Euro 2016.

However, the Reds will be eager to tie Sakho to a new deal. Not only does he provide excellent cover in the centre of defence, but he is also a fine alternative to the inconsistent Dejan Lovren.

Rodgers' side have had defensive issues of late—they have conceded 98 Premier League goals in the last two seasons—and keeping Sakho should be a priority. He is one of the club's most accomplished defenders, but he will need to be assured of his first-team future if he is to commit in the long term.

The Reds also have a struggle on their hands to snap up Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Serie A champions Juventus are reportedly interested in the 26-year-old, per translator David Amoyal on GianlucaDiMarzio.com. 

Per Amoyal, Dortmund will not sell Armenian Mkhitaryan for anything less than €20 million (£14.3 million).

Indeed, both Juve and Liverpool's interest may be wholly academic, as Bundesliga expert Clark Whitney does not foresee a situation in which Dortmund would sell Mkhitaryan:

Not signing Mkhitaryan is unlikely to be a huge blow to Liverpool as they have significant depth in the midfield after a decent summer in the transfer window.

However, failing to sign Sakho up to a new deal could be an issue as the Frenchman is an important player in Rodgers' squad.