Victor Moses also expected to join on loan
LONDON: Liverpool have boosted their defensive options with the signings of Mamadou Sakho from Paris St Germain and Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday.
The 23-year-old Sakho is a France international, having played 14 times for his country since making his debut against England in 2010, while 20-year-old Ilori has played for Portugal at age-group level.
The pair have lifted the number of defenders signed by Brendan Rodgers during the transfer window to four, although Kolo Toure and Aly Cissokho missed Sunday’s 1-0 win over Manchester United through injury.
Uruguayan centre-back Sebastian Coates has already been ruled out for most of the season with a knee injury.
“I know the history of the club and the Premier League is the best league in the world, in my opinion,” Ilori, who was born in London, told the club’s official website.
“Liverpool, have a great team and I think it’s the place for me to be at the moment.
“I know there have been some great teams here in the past and the club has won a lot of trophies and I want to be a part of it.”
No transfer fee was disclosed for either player, who join Toure, Cissokho, Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Simon Mignolet as new arrivals at Anfield since the end of last season.
“My aim while I am here is to play in the Champions League with Liverpool,” Sakho, who made 151 league appearances for PSG, scoring seven times, said.
“I remember their teams when they were in the competition when I was younger.
“The Champions League is a tournament that all the great clubs in Europe participate in and that’s where we need to get to.”
Liverpool, who top the Premier League standings with three wins from as many matches to start the campaign, are also in advanced talks to take Chelsea winger Victor Moses on a season-long loan.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Mesut Ozil is close to moving to Arsenal from Real Madrid.
Arsenal have not signed any players of note during the transfer window and Ozil is rumoured to be moving for a club record fee.
The Gunners are also reportedly in talks to take on Demba Ba on loan from Chelsea. (Reuters)