Struggling Premier League sides West Ham United and Stoke City are among the prime contenders for the signature of wantaway Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge.
Daniel Sturridge is not an automatic selection in the starting eleven at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, with the German manager preferring Brazilian Roberto Firmino up front in a false 9 role.
Sturridge is now willing to leave the club in search of regular football, according to the Mirror. The report further adds that West Ham United and Stoke City are among a number of clubs interested in the Englishman.
Liverpool are currently paying the England international a reported £120,000 per week. These wages are not outside the reach of either West Ham or Stoke, who are both desperate to add another striker to their squad.
The Hammers signed Simone Zaza this past summer from Juventus, but the Italian has failed to impress. The Potters similarly secured Wilfried Bony on loan from Manchester City, but the Ivorian striker has scored just two goals in eight Premier League starts this season, both of which came against struggling Swansea City.
The Reds aren’t expected to hold out for a huge transfer fee for the 27-year-old; an offer near the £30 million mark could be acceptable for all parties involved.
There were reports in January of this year that claimed Klopp wasn’t too keen on keeping Daniel Sturridge in his squad. The injury-plagued striker has missed more games than he has started since the 2013-14 season, when Liverpool almost won the Premier League title.
Sturridge has been relatively injury-free this season, but this output hasn’t been as impressive as many would have expected. The striker has eight Premier League appearances for Liverpool without a single goal. However, the former Chelsea man has scored four goals for the Reds in the League Cup.
The Englishman, who recently lashed out at criticism about his alleged selfishness as a player, appears to be on borrowed time at Anfield. The Klopp set-up requires a high work rate from all players on the pitch, and Sturridge just does not seem to be hardworking enough to be a regular under the German. A move away could end up being in his own best interest.
