Liverpool to be dealt a transfer blow as Inter Milan prepare to swoop for attacker

Inter Milan are planning to sign Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, according to several reports. The 28-year-old is reportedly seeking a loan move to secure first-team football and earn himself a place in England’s World Cup squad. Italian sports daily Tuttosport claims Inter are now carefully considering whether to make a move for Sturridge this month.

The Nerazzurri are in need of reinforcements up front, to back up Mauro Icardi and replace him when he gets tired. Striker Eder is rumoured to be on his way out.

Sturridge has really struggled to get playing time this season, with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino being played ahead of him for obvious reasons. He has missed the last 8 games with a hamstring problem and illness, but he had only made 5 Premier League starts before that.

Having only played 431 league minutes this season, the England international is far from the man who scored 21 Premier League goals in 2013/2014 under manager Brendon Rodgers. The Serie A giants are aware that Sturridge wants regular first-team football in the second half of the season and are assessing a swoop. They want to make additions to their squad this month but are focusing on low-cost solutions.

As such, the only option for Luciano Spalleti’s side could be to sign the English striker on loan from Liverpool. The Italians are seeking alternatives for in-form striker Icardi, who has already bagged 18 goals this season. A six-month loan elsewhere might well get Sturridge the game time he desires, both for the World Cup in the summer and to get his career back on track in general.

But Inter want a back-up for Icardi, so moving from bench to bench doesn’t seem to be a particularly effective way for the former Chelsea forward to get noticed. Competition is fierce for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Russia. Harry Kane is the only certainty, with the other striking berths are up for grabs.

If Sturridge keeps the desire to make the World Cup squad for Russia, he has to make a bold decision of leaving Anfield and get a club ready to offer him regular game time.

I hope he doesn’t choose Inter as that would mean acting as a backup to Icardi. The move could materialise but won’t make any sense for him.