The Liverpool striker was linked with West Ham United this week, while Everton’s odds of signing him have shortened.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge
Talksport pundit Danny Murphy suspects there could be a point when Daniel Sturridge has to leave Liverpool, although it won’t be in January.
Sturridge has failed to score a single league goal for the Reds this season, having often been restricted to a substitute’s role by the form of attacking quartet Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
As such, the England striker has found himself strongly linked with a move away from Anfield this week, with West Ham United among the clubs mentioned.
Meanwhile, the odds of Sturridge transferring to Liverpool’s neighbours Everton have shortened dramatically, leaving Murphy – a former Reds midfielder – to ponder the 27-year-old’s options.
“I still believe he’s a super talented footballer who is capable of playing for a top four club,” he told Thursday’s Jim White show. “But with his injury record now and the way (Liverpool manager, Jurgen) Klopp wants to play, I think there might be a point, probably summer not January, where he might move on.
“Then he has to look around and think: Well, where can I be the main man, the hero, the big boy, the player that they all love and rely on? Someone was talking about Everton earlier, well they’ve got (Romelu) Lukaku so you’re guessing on whether he’s going to leave or not.
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku
“West Ham? London club, massive stadium, great support, trying to progress. I could see it. They’d probably have to break their wage structure, because I think Sturridge is probably earning 140-, 150-grand a week at Liverpool. West
“Ham desperately need a striker who can score them some goals don’t they? And Sturridge certainly that.”
General view inside West Ham’s London Stadium
Liverpool are set to lose Mane for the 2017 African Cup of Nations tournament, which begins in January and is a potential route back into the side for Sturridge.
The former Manchester City and Chelsea player has scored an impressive 58 goals in 102 appearances for the Reds.
The last player to move directly between Liverpool and Everton was the late Gary Ablett in 1992.
The late Stockport County manager Gary Ablett
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