Daniel Sturridge is no longer an integral member of the Liverpool first team. His time at the club has been frustrating this season and the English forward has not played enough despite being fit. He was snubbed for the Three Lions call this time and reports now claim that it might prompt Sturridge to seek a move away from Anfield.
Here is a look at the three possible teams who should chase him should Sturridge want to move.
Southampton
Southampton have the eighth most expensively assembled squad outside the top six and Everton in the English Premier League. However, the Saints have scored only 9 goals in 11 league games this season. Amongst their current crop of strikers, they have Manolo Gabbiadini, Charlie Austin and Shane Long. Their forwards have failed to bang in the goals, leaving them pondering for a new striker who can find the back of the net on a more regular basis. It appears now that the owners are ready to bring in new players and Sturridge, given his experience in the league, would be a perfect foil for them up front.
Chelsea
Alvaro Morata has replaced Diego Costa at Chelsea, successfully. However, the backup option for the Spaniard, Michy Batshuayi, despite scoring 7 goals this season, has not shown the consistency Antonio Conte demands and the Italian’s decision to rebuff the striker for the City match exposed Chelsea’s lack of options up front. Chelsea are already 9 points off the pace in the title race and have to buckle down from here onwards if they want to pose any kind of title threat to the Manchester duo.
Chelsea’s lack of options up front complimented with Conte’s lack of willingness to bank on Batshuyai for the big matches clearly shows their dependency on the 24-year old Spanish forward and Conte might want to look at Sturridge as a viable and tested option.
Everton
In a summer that promised so much, with the return of their boyhood star Wayne Rooney, things have failed miserably for Everton. The Everton squad hosts a team of players of great attacking calibre. The squad has a good mixture of youth and experience. In the likes of Rooney, Sigurosson, Barkley, Ramirez, Klaassen and Calvert-Lewin, Everton have few of the brightest prospects of European football at the club but nobody has really fired this season for them.
Everton have already spent a net amount of £142.38 million after Moshiri’s takeover but they are ready to keep their wallets open to solve their goalscoring crisis. Although how much will the Reds bosses allow Sturridge to cross over to the Blue team of Merseyside remains to be seen. It might just discourage any possible deal between the teams.
