Liverpool are about to test Chelsea’s resolve by making an offer for Daniel Sturridge.
The Reds have reportedly made the cheeky enquiry after receiving an offer from their Premier League rivals of 8m plus former midfielder Yossi Benayoun in exchange for Raul Meireles. That offer has been rejected but with Sturridge having been a target for the Merseyside club since the return of Kenny Dalglish as manager in January, a counter proposal is reportedly in the offing.
With the Blues valuing the England Under 21 international at a prohibitive £20m, Liverpool will try to tempt the Londoners into letting him leave by offering Meireles and a cash sum. Chelsea currently have a wealth of strikers at the club with Sturridge fighting Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata for a place in the team. Liverpool already have Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez as their preferred strikers but with just Dirk Kuyt as an option beyond those two, the likelihood of game time at Anfield is greater than at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are keen to trim their squad especially in attacking areas with Kalou, Anelka and Malouda all thought to be available at the right price. It seems unlikely that manager Andre Villas-Boas would sanction the departure of Sturridge due to his form, youth and nationality but with the Portuguese admitting that the club desperately need a midfielder, he might bite the bullet and accept the Meireles package if the protracted attempt to land Tottenham’s Luka Modric falls flat.
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