Chelsea striker
Daniel Sturridge wants to make a January exit from Stamford Bridge - with
Liverpool his first-choice destination.
A number of clubs are understood to be interested in the
striker but Liverpool and Chelsea have begun talks over a £15m deal and
Sturridge has set his sights on a move to Anfield reports the Evening Standard.
The 23-year-old, who joined from Manchester City for £6.5m
in 2009, has become increasingly frustrated over his lack of starts up front
and hopes a deal with the Reds will be agreed.
There have been reports that Sturridge has demanded
£80,000-a-week to join the Reds, as well as guarantees over a starting role,
however the striker's representatives have denied this.
"Daniel Sturridge does not conduct his business in
public," they said.
"He also does not make demands in any negotiation, with
regards to salary or his playing position.
"Any contract between a club and a player has to be
based on mutual agreement."
The former City trainee has scored 24 goals in 95 appearances
for the Blues - five more than rival
Fernando Torres from 90 games - but has been mostly played out wide on the
right flank.
His form has been good enough to earn four England caps and
he also played up front for the Great Britain Olympic team in the summer.
Sturridge has started just two games for Chelsea this season
due to a persistent hamstring injury but has conceded he will never be given a
chance to be first-choice striker. Torres has been consistently picked ahead of
him since joining for a British record £50m from Liverpool last year, even
though he has failed to impress.
Chelsea are growing impatient over Torres but are expected
to try to sign another big-name forward such as Atletico Madrid's Radamel
Falcao or Napoli's Edinson Cavani rather than give Sturridge a run in the side.
The club are prepared to let him go in January as his
contract runs out in 2014 and with him not expected to agree a new one, it is
the last window where they can command a large fee.
That will help them raise funds to buy a replacement,
especially as it appears Romelu Lukaku will not be recalled from his season's
loan at West Brom.
Lukaku, who started just four games for Chelsea last season
after joining from Anderlecht for £18m, has scored five goals for Steve
Clarke's side.
Chelsea have an option to take him back in January but coach
Rafael Benitez said: "It's maybe best for him to stay there where he is
playing games for now, as it will be better for his future development."
Benitez has been put in charge for the rest of the season
and it was thought that would allow Roman Abramovich to make a move for Pep
Guardiola in the summer.
However, L'Equipe reported today the former Barcelona boss,
who is on a year's sabbatical, has opened talks with Paris St Germain as they
are considering replacing boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard trained today, raising the prospect
he could return against Nordsjaelland tomorrow for his first match since
straining his calf during the defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk in October.
Source http://www.independent.co.uk
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