The Mail is reporting that Arsenal are chasing the talented young striker. Here’s our take on it.
Daniel Sturridge is one half of England’s hottest striking prospects. Along with Danny Welbeck the pair are the most exciting prospects to break into the national setup in a long time.
So for Chelsea to sell Sturridge now would be utter madness.
He has been integral in a number of big victories for Chelsea this season, despite being played out wide.
And it is this which is causing Sturridge frustration, even if his on-pitch performances do not bear it out.
As a striker, Sturridge believes he is most effective through the middle, and this is where he wants to play.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas is adamant in his refusal to do so, continuing to play Sturridge out wide.
You can understand to an extent why. Sturridge has scored nine league goals this season from that position, more than Didier Drogba (four) and Fernando Torres (two) combined.
It was Sturridge cutting in from the right which forced Jonny Evans’ own goal against Manchester United on Sunday.
But with Chelsea’s central striker failing to perform, of late Torres, why not play Sturridge through the middle, surely he will score even more goals.
This is the theory, perhaps Villas-Boas is right that Sturridge’s pace attacking from out wide causes more problems, but without testing Sturridge for a sustained period of time through the centre, we will never know.
With Drogba and Torres failing to perform, Chelsea should give him a chance.
With Arsenal now interested, and no doubt offering opportunities through the centre of attack, Sturridge has got to be considering such an opportunity.
Chelsea would be better off in the long-term allowing Villas-Boas to go than Sturridge, who could be a star for the Blues through the next decade.
He could develop a partnership with fellow young striker Romelu Lukaku, who also deserves a chance at Torres’ expense.
Sturridge, 22, has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, and Chelsea are under no pressure to sell.
Arsenal would have to put in a bid of approaching £20 million for the forward, but if Robin van Persie calls it quits in the summer, money will be no object for the Gunners.
We understand Sturridge’s frustration, but think he should stick it out for now at Chelsea.
The main thing is that he is getting playing time on the pitch, an opportunity he was unlikely to have been afforded if he stayed at Manchester City.
Do you think Sturridge should stay or go?
image: © Sorren Lissner
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