Could Liverpool use Daniel Sturridge to finally land Virgil van Dijk?

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Daniel Sturridge reportedly wants to leave Liverpool to secure regular first-team football.

Jurgen Klopp has told Sky Sports that he still needs Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool amid reports that the striker wants to leave Anfield when the transfer window reopens.

According to Sky Sports, Sturridge will look for a new club in January as he aims to force his way back into the England squad for the World Cup, but Klopp played down the reports.

“I can imagine a player with his quality is not happy that he is not starting all the time, but that’s all,” Klopp is quoted by Sky Sports as saying. “The situation with the player is completely okay. At this moment we are in November and need all our players – even if he feels a little different.

“There is around one-and-a-half months before the window opens and I don’t think about things like this. There are so many games before then and I need all of them (his players).”

Having only started him four times in all competitions this season, Klopp seemingly doesn’t need Sturridge as much as he thinks he does. What he does desperately need, is a new centre-back.

The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool will return for Virgil van Dijk in the New Year after Southampton held firm amid strong interest from the Reds in the Dutch defender last summer.

Should significant cash still not be enough to persuade the Saints to sell, Liverpool could offer Sturridge in part-exchange as Southampton could do with another striker.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side have scored only nine times in 12 Premier League games this season and are too reliant on Italian forward Manolo Gabbiadini finding the net.

Sturridge is still one of the country’s deadliest finishers when fit and would provide the Saints with a much greater goal threat, while they would meet his demands of first-team football.