Mamadou Sakho is close to signing a new five-year contract with Liverpool as he looks to force his way back into Brendan Rodgers' first-team plans.

Liverpool offered the French international defender an extended, improved deal last month despite him failing to feature in squads for the opening two games of the Premier League season.

It was expected the 25- year-old would assess his prospects before committing to fresh terms, but after talks yesterday between Anfield officials and Sakho’s representatives, the defender is close to committing his future to the club until 2020.

Sakho made his first start of the season in Thursday's Europa League draw in Bordeaux, and produced an impressive display to push his claims for a starting role against Norwich City on Sunday.

Liverpool resisted offers from Roma and Bayer Leverkusen for the former Paris Saint-Germain captain in the summer and he was handed the captain's armband on Thursday in a show of support from the manager. . Guardian service