Southampton target loan deal for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge in January

Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2016 by Express.co.uk

Southampton target loan deal for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge in January
Claude Puel is reportedly targeting Daniel Sturridge

SOUTHAMPTON want to take Liverpool misfit Daniel Sturridge on loan in January with a view to a possible ￡25 million summer move.

England striker Sturridge has been sidelined by Anfield manager Jurgen Klopp, who is reportedly ready to allow the injury-prone England striker to leave in January to make way for new signings.

Klopp has this season preferred to use Roberto Firmino in attack and once again on Saturday Sturridge was confined to the bench and played only 12 minutes as a substitute, ironically at Southampton.

Saints have been monitoring Sturridge's situation for some time, and are ready to table a loan offer in the mid season transfer window, with a view to a permanent summer deal.

Southampton manager Claude Puel wants a regular partner for central striker Charlie Austin, having seen front men Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane both leave in the summer – Mane to Liverpool.

West Ham and Stoke, and also Italian giants AC Milan, are also both interested in Sturridge, 27, who has spent the last three seasons at Anfield but has struggled with injuries the whole time.

Sturridge has yet to find the net in the League this season, though he did score for England against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier last week.

Saints, like West Ham, want to negotiate a loan deal first for the former Chelsea striker so they can judge his fitness issue before committing to any long term deal.