Former Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has urged out-of-favour defender Mamadou Sakho to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Sakho has found himself frozen out at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp following a number of disciplinary incidents during pre-season and the opening weeks of the 2016-17 campaign.

Balotelli was also deemed surplus to requirements under Klopp, but having thrived at Ligue 1 side Nice since leaving Anfield, the Italian believes that Sakho also needs to find a way out.

"I speak with him from time to time. I told him what a shame that a player like you is not playing," he told Telefoot.

"I have played with Mama, he is one of the best defenders that I have come across, he deserves to be playing every match, for the national team too.

"That is what is most important, he should leave. I will ask him if he wants to come to Nice! For January, that would be good."

Balotelli has scored six goals in his first six Ligue 1 games for Nice.