According to reports in The Telegraph, Southampton are looking to set up a loan deal until the end of the season for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who has scored 75 goals in 194 Premier League appearances.
What’s the word, then?
Well, after selling Virgil van Dijk to the Reds in a £75m deal, Saints are reportedly ready to boost a squad that lies just two points above the relegation zone.
The south coast outfit may be one of the busier Premier League clubs during the January transfer window, and The Telegraph says that Mauricio Pellegrino wants to bring Sturridge to St Mary’s to add some much-needed pace, power and goal threat to a team that has scored 20 goals in 20 top flight matches so far this term.
The report adds that while Southampton are ideally looking for permanent deals, they would be interested in taking a proven player like Sturridge, who needs to play more regularly to have any chance of making the England squad for next summer’s World Cup, on loan.
How has Sturridge done this season?
He has struggled, once again.
The form of the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane mean that he has started the majority of the games he has been available for on the substitutes’ bench, while he has missed Liverpool’s last five Premier League matches through illness and injury.
The 28-year-old has scored three goals and provided a further three assists in 14 appearances in all competitions though, although he hasn’t played in the top flight since the 1-1 draw against Chelsea in November.
Would he be a good signing for Southampton?
He certainly would be, as long as he can stay fit.
The England international’s injury issues have been well-documented over the last few years, and Saints would need to keep the 28-year-old fit to get the best out of him.
With 64 goals in 133 games for Liverpool, the striker has shown that he can score regularly when he is on the pitch, and that is exactly what the south coast outfit need right now.
Will they get him?
It will depend on a few things.
Firstly, whether Jurgen Klopp will allow him to leave in January, and secondly whether Liverpool will make a deal easy for Southampton given that they demanded £75m for van Dijk.
If the relationship between the two clubs is fully repaired though, it could certainly be a possibility with Sturridge wanting to play, and if the Reds are willing to subsidise his wages.
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