Liverpool: Sturridge heading for Anfield exit

"Daniel Sturridge is a high-profile player who appears to be heading out of Anfield. West Brom, Newcastle, Inter Milan and Sevilla have all expressed their interest, but where will he end up at the end of the month? "
Published by
29th Jan 2018

It's the final week of the January transfer window and there is still plenty of business to be done. With the January transfer market coming to a close, teams across the continent are trying to secure players to get the best squad possible for the rest of the season.

One player who has been attracting attention all month has been Daniel Sturridge. The forward has only made nine appearances this season for Liverpool, scoring three goals. There is an acceptance that his future lies away from Anfield. Sturridge will have 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of this season and there are no plans as it stands to offer him a new deal. Fans with Liverpool tickets have been resigned to life without Philippe Coutinho and now appear to be losing another big name this month with no replacements lined up. 

Sturridge would have moved on last summer had a suitable offer come in. He needs to be the main man somewhere but it is not going to be at Anfield. Sturridge has a fight on his hands if he wants to go to the 2018 World Cup in the summer. Right now, he is nowhere near the squad. However if he can recapture his goalscoring form he could give Gareth Southgate something to think about.

Liverpool made him available for £30 million at the start of the month with any suitors having to match his £120,000 wage demands. The Reds have since come to terms that a loan deal could work out best for both parties in order for the frontman to play regularly and recapture his form. Sevilla, Inter Milan, Roma and more recently, Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion have all expressed an interest in the striker and made enquiries to take him on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Sturridge has found himself surplus to requirements this season after another injury hit campaign which has seen him fall further down the pecking order behind Roberto Firmino, Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings. Football Ticket Pad examines what move would be best for Sturridge as he mulls over his options ahead of what could be one of the biggest decisions of his career to date.

Liverpool are also happy to keep Sturridge at Anfield, given they are still involved in the Champions League and trying to secure a top-four spot in the Premier League. Keeping him would serverely jepordise his World Cup hopes and would leave Liverpool with a player going into the final year of his contract. The Reds look destined to cash in on the striker whilst they can to avoid losing him on the cheap.

Inter Milan are another potential suitor offering Sturridge the chance to recapture his form in Serie A. Inter are interested in a loan deal with an option to buy for the 28-year-old, and Liverpool will allow him to leave for Serie A if he is keen on the move. Inter Milan did make a formal approach which was agreed with Liverpool but not the player. The Italians struck an agreement with the club, but the 28-year-old’s delay in taking up that option indicated a preference to go elsewhere. He had hoped Sevilla would firm up their interest in him by delivering an acceptable offer, yet the Spaniards have fallen short of Liverpool’s estimation.

Sevilla made an inquiry about bringing Sturridge to Spain until the end of the season. The La Liga club offered to pay all of his wages but Liverpool turned down the deal earlier in the month, with a preference to sell permanently.

A short-term move to Newcastle United is also on the cards with Rafael Benitez willing to offer Sturridge a route out of Liverpool. Benitez has been desperate for striking reinforcements this month and he would be making a real statement if he can convince Sturridge to offer Newcastle that much needed fire power in attack. Sturridge would be brought in to play a pivotal role in their bid for Premier League survival and would certainly get the regular playing time ahead of the World Cup. The main concern with Newcastle would be keeping him fit. If he gets injured the move may backfire on them. However, if he can fire them to safety it will prove to be a shrewd piece of business for both the player and the club at such an important stage of his career.

The Magpies turned to Sturridge after enduring frustration with Feyenoord’s Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen. Sturridge appears increasingly minded to stay in England as he looks to reignite his stalled career. The Magpies have emerged as leading candidates to take the Liverpool outcast on loan until the end of the season with a loan fee of £1.5 million and an agreement to pay his salary in full.

Newcastle now appear to have moved ahead of their rivals, including several Premier League clubs. West Bromwich Albion are also interested and are willing to meet his wage demands with a loan fee agreed. West Ham United are also looking into the possibility of taking Sturridge after selling Diafra Sakho and willing to listen to offers for Javier Hernandez.