Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge should consider a move away from the club, with West Ham United, Southampton and Sunderland all ideal destinations.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has struggled to establish himself as the club’s main striker following a succession of long-term injuries, and he looks to be growing increasingly more frustrated.
The 27-year-old was ineffective during his side’s 2-1 win at Chelsea on Friday night and was substituted after just 57 minutes.
Sturridge is the kind of player who needs to be the main man in the side. He thrives on scoring goals, and to do that, he needs to play on a more regular basis – something that he is far from assured of at Liverpool.
In fact, he has never been the main striker at any club he has spent time at throughout his career, and to finally achieve this, he must follow the example of former teammate Christian Benteke and make the move away from Anfield to a so-called smaller club, and in turn, become more of an influential figure.
Here are three potential destinations for Sturridge:
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge
West Ham United:
Considering the Hammers’ frantic search for a top-class striker throughout the summer, it was a surprise they did not make a concrete move for Sturridge.
Despite the signing of Simone Zaza, whom the jury is still out on, Slaven Bilic could still do with a proven goal scorer.
Sturridge would fit perfectly into the West Ham ethos.
He could play as a lone striker, or as a partner for either Zaza or Andy Carroll.
Most importantly, he would without question be the main man at the Olympic Stadium, and he would surely flourish with the outstanding service provided by Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge
Southampton:
The Saints have began their 2016/17 campaign in a stuttering manner, as they continue to adjust to new manager Claude Puel’s footballing philosophy.
Despite their plethora of striking options, they do not possess a truly outstanding, proven goalscorer.
Sturridge could prove to be the ideal signing for the South Coast outfit.
They play with a patient build-up, with Puel coming form the school of Arsene Wenger style management.
The Liverpool man would add a level of potency to their play, and could lead the line as the Saints main striker.
Sunderland:
The Black Cats are another club struggling under new management this season, and like Southampton, find themselves in the bottom three.
They are too heavily reliant on Jermain Defoe to score goals, and the potential addition of Daniel Sturridge could solve that issue in one fell swoop.
Defoe is 33 now, and well into the back-nine of his career. Sturridge could take over the mantle of Sunderland’s number one striker when Defore leaves, and in the meantime, form a formidable partnership with the former Tottenham Hotspur man.
Whether Sturridge does eventually leave Liverpool or ends up staying could define how his career ends up being perceived.
If he wants to leave a truly great legacy behind, it is arguable that an Anfield exit would be the best way to go about doing this.
England’s Daniel Sturridge during the stadium visit
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