Rumoured Liverpool Target Joins Stoke City

In a deal that's connected to Liverpool in two ways, Bruno Martins Indi has joined Stoke City on loan. The Porto defender was rumoured to be a Liverpool target with a possible move in the event of Mamadou Sakho's departure. Sakho, incidentally, was subject to strong interest from Stoke—a destination that seemed the most suitable out of all his options.

Now that the 24-year-old Dutch international has joined Mark Hughes' increasingly impressive squad, the chances of Stoke trying to push again for Sakho have been extinguished. Philipp Wollscheid joined Wolfsburg on a permanent deal to make room for Martins Indi.

Mamadou Sakho has seemingly made his intentions clear, and now Stoke can be ruled out as a potential destination for the 26-year-old. There could be a change of heart or circumstances that would force Sakho to reconsider his stance, but it appears that there will be nowhere for Sakho to go. As for Stoke, it's the second solid signing of the day after Wilfried Bony on a season-long loan from Manchester City.