Liverpool are only interested in letting Daniel Sturridge leave the club in January if he chooses Inter Milan over Sevilla, claims Sky Sports reporter Guillem Balague. Sturridge’s time at Anfield has been hampered by injuries but he has been fit for most of this season. However, he has failed to nail down a regular place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.

It is very clear that Klopp prefers the attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah ahead of the England international, though our manager has often said that he values Sturridge as a member of his squad. Earlier, Calciomercato suggested the striker could be on his way to Italy to join Inter but yesterday the Mirror claimed that Sturridge had told the club that he wants to join Sevilla.

However, Balague claims Inter have offered more money for a short-term loan deal and Liverpool are prepared to keep the £120,000-a-week forward if he refuses to move to Italy.

“About two or three weeks ago, Sevilla sent a message asking for Sturridge and Liverpool said he’s not for sale and left it there,” Balague said on his YouTube channel.

“But since then Inter showed interest and Liverpool have pushed to Sturridge that Inter could be the place to go if he wanted to go but they’d rather keep him.

“The idea being they are still in three competitions and they would like to keep him. But the way that Liverpool put it to Sturridge is ‘it’s either Inter or you stay’.

“I believe Sturridge’s representatives have met Inter. The idea is to have him on loan, with no obligation to buy. Sevilla is exactly the same. I think Inter are paying more for the loan deal but I would be excited to have Sturridge at Sevilla.

“Not just for six months but for two-and-a-half years and be able to see the best Sturridge in a different place.

“His muscle injuries sometimes get affected positively by a change of surrounding so it may be a good idea for him to move on. But Liverpool have said it is either Inter or he stays.”

Sturridge’s stock has dropped massively over the past couple of seasons due to an accumulation of unfortunate injury problems.

If the Englishman thinks that a change in environment could boost his chances of playing in the World Cup in Russia, he should force a move out of Anfield by hook or crook.