It appears as if Inter Milan have agreed to a loan deal for Daniel Sturridge, with an option to make it permanent in the summer, according to reports.
Sturridge is desperate to play regularly after struggling for game time this season as he hopes to resurrect his stuttering career and be considered by Gareth Southgate for the 23-man England squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
However, he is unlikely to play regularly for the Reds, with Roberto Firmino and Dominic Solanke ahead of him in the pecking order for the striker’s role. Now, Jurgen Klopp has refused to promise him regular game time.
“I have never in my life promised a player game time for the next few months,” Klopp was quoted by Liverpool Echo.
“It is not possible. We have mentioned all the things like it was so far. When Daniel is fit, training, in shape, he is still an outstanding striker – there is no doubt about that. But he did not play the last few weeks for different reasons.
“Of course one of them was Roberto Firmino’s performance and Dom Solanke’s development. And Daniel being in and out of training. In general more in than out, but at times when he was in he was a little unlucky with the games.”
While Sturridge’s future at the club remains uncertain ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline, the Corriere dello Sport report Inter have agreed to an initial loan deal of €2m with a view to making the deal permanent at €28.5m in the summer.
The 28-year-old striker hasn’t featured for the Reds since early December due to illness and injury, starting only five times this season in all competitions.
The move to Inter would give Sturridge a chance to play regularly and book his berth in the English World Cup squad. His desire to try an adventure abroad means that the Premier League clubs looking for the striker’s services have been wiped out of the equation.
Liverpool already sold an attacking player this month when Philippe Coutinho moved to Barcelona and Sturridge appears to be joining him on the departures list as he nears a move to Serie A.
