Daniel Sturridge's move to Liverpool FC nears after he passes his medical

By James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
Dec 24 2012

DANIEL STURRIDGE is on the brink of making a £12million move to Liverpool FC from Chelsea after passing his medical.

The 23-year-old striker was on Merseyside yesterday to undergo a series of tests after agreeing personal terms with the Reds.

There is unlikely to be any official announcement from the club about the England international’s arrival until after the transfer window has opened.

Wednesday, January 2 is the first day that the paperwork can be processed so until then no deal can be completed.

The transfer ran into trouble last week due to the cash demands of Sturridge’s agent but those issues have since been resolved.

Boss Brendan Rodgers had lined up Paris Saint Germain striker Kevin Gameiro as an alternative option, but the Northern Irishman was always confident that Sturridge would grasp the chance to kick-start his career with the Reds.

Sturridge, who has only recently recovered from a hamstring injury and hasn’t played since mid-November, leaves Chelsea after three and a half years at Stamford Bridge.

He has found his opportunities limited in the capital, but boasts a respectable scoring record of 24 goals in 49 starts. He also made a further 47 substitute appearances.

Sturridge, who has four England caps, came through the ranks at Manchester City after joining them at the age of 13.

He made his first-team debut against Reading in 2007 but frustrated by a lack of game-time he rejected a new contract and moved to Chelsea in July 2009.

The Birmingham-born frontman enjoyed a successful loan spell at Bolton in the 2010/11 season when he netted eight goals in 12 games.

Sturridge has been restricted to just one start and six substitute outings in the Premier League so far this season with his only strike in October’s 4-2 win at Tottenham.

Liverpool will now turn their attentions to wrapping up a deal for Blackpool’s Tom Ince. The Reds remain confident that an agreement will be struck.

fatman123 wrote:Will be an awesome signing for Liverpool, there were only two good things that came from AVBs regin-Mata and Sturidge getting game time, through which he proved he was Chelsea best striker.

Although he is undoubtly selfish, it is over exagurated, its not as bad as Zarate (and Stug is much better then him too) and cutting in form the right flank he was deadly last season. Plus he gives you another alternative to Suarez in the middle, which tbf you dont really have atm with Borini still unrpoven (although imo he has a higher potential then Suarez) and Sterling still pretty fresh. Also in terms of clinicity hes going to help you out so much, hes a much better finisher then Suarez (although Suarez does have the better all round game)

how reliable is that 12mil fee? it seems like alot for a player in the last 6 months of his contract with high potenital but a lot of mystery around him, remeber this time last season we got Cahill for around 6mil who was in the same situation

Art Morte wrote:Sturridge's pace and power and movement make him a handful for any opposition. Throw his natural eye for goal on top of that and we might be signing a new Torres here

Sturridge

Art Morte wrote:ffs, pooi, don't stop the bandwagon, don't stop it!!

What Sturridge might lack to Torres in the box he will make up with his fierce long-range shots, totally expecting him to threaten Torres's goals-per-game ratio for us

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:I feel the same Mr I was really against his signing but now seeing him holding the Pool jersey and knowing that he's our player my heart has already warmed up to him.

I'm %100 percent positive he'll get his first goal on his debut in the FA Cup on the weekend.

Selfish necessarily a bad thing?

Daniel Sturridge: I'm not like other players... I have only one girlfriend and I really wanted to be a wrestler
By Alex Kay UPDATED: 19:06 EST, 25 November 2010

Let's dispel a couple of myths: some footballers do like going to the theatre and Daniel Sturridge is not an overpaid brat. In fact, the Chelsea striker never wanted to be a footballer in the first place.

'When I was six or seven, I was never really into football,' says Sturridge, warming himself up after a freezing hour-and-a-half doing his bit for England's 2018 bid near Heathrow.

'I wanted to be a wrestler. It seemed so real. I used to have all the figures and a little ring and every bit of pocket money I had I used to buy new ones. I still have them now.

'I think I was about 12 when I realised I wasn't going to make it. I didn't have the skills. I used to do moves on my cousins and we had a lot of fun but then I turned up at senior school and thought, "this isn't fun - I shouldn't be doing moves on my cousins". So I focused on something more realistic.'

That was football, and Sturridge certainly has the skills for that. After spells at Aston Villa and Coventry, Sturridge arrived at Manchester City in 2006, and was a resounding success. But when his deal ran out at the end of last season, he turned down City's contract offer of around £45,000 a week - not bad for a 20-year-old - and joined Chelsea for about £25,000 a week more.

It was not looked upon well by some and sources at Chelsea suggested he was a bit big for his boots when he arrived. But despite spending more time than he would like warming the Chelsea bench, Sturridge, now 21, insists money had nothing to do with his move south.

'I had a huge ambition to play for the best club in the world - which I achieved. Nobody can say I left Manchester City for Chelsea for money because Man City is the richest club in the world. Also, City signed lots of strikers so it was difficult for me to stay. When a team like Chelsea comes knocking, you have to take the opportunity. I think I'm a better player now so the move has been beneficial. Everything's worked out as I thought - besides the fact I'm not playing as much as I would like.'

And there lies the problem for Sturridge. He's rated highly and looks bright when he plays - he was probably Chelsea's best player against MSK Zilina on Tuesday - but he spends most of his time on the bench. He has made just three Premier League starts for the club and, while he is not stupid enough to start kicking up a fuss, you can sense a degree of frustration.

'I'm at the age when I want to be starting. I'm not saying the manager needs to oust other players to get me in but I need to be playing more often. It's important at a young age to be playing regularly because that's how you learn to play the game.

'When you're coming off the bench it's difficult to get into the pace of the game and do well. I don't want to be branded a super-sub. I'd rather be branded a super-starter.

'It's quite frustrating but you have to find a way of dealing with that because you're not going to get everything your own way. The opportunities will come.

'Look at Gareth Bale. He's doing amazingly but it wasn't so long ago people were talking about how he hadn't won a game. That's from the conf idence of playing regularly.'

For the moment, Sturridge can still be classed a young player. But in a year or two, you would argue, he needs to be fulfilling his potential - even if that means doing what he doesn't want to do and leaving Chelsea. Swansea tried to take him on loan this week but Sturridge isn't interested, for now.

'If the opportunities don't come in due time, obviously I will have to look elsewhere,' he adds. 'Because it is only a matter of time until you get frustrated. But you have to be patient at a club like Chelsea. 'Going out on loan doesn't always do you good. It could be better to stay and work hard because it will then feel so much better when you do get your chance.

'I want to be a regular at Chelsea - not anywhere else. I believe I am able to start games for Chelsea. I've spoken to the manager about getting opportunities.'
With those opportunities not arising, Sturridge has to take his mind off football. That's where the theatre comes in.

'My girlfriend is a drama student so I rehearse lines with her. We go to watch a lot of shows together. I went to see War Horse recently. I didn't cry but I was quite emotional. I wanted to.

'Since I saw that, I've not been impressed by anything. You can have a fun night at Lion King or Sister Act or other musicals, but this was more serious, more intense.'

It is not the sort of activity you generally associate with footballers, but Sturridge thinks he is different, and it sounds like his girlfriend should be thankful for that.

'I'm not like everyone else. I only have one girlfriend, I don't go out to clubs and go drinking. But I don't think there is anything wrong with players doing that. People in every other job do, so it's wrong for people to say footballers can't.'

With that discipline, Sturridge could fulfil his dream of becoming a Chelsea regular and, eventually, an England player. It is with that in mind that he was at Heathrow to put his signature to the British Airways plane that will take the England bid team to Zurich for next week's vote.

'It felt great. Supporting the bid is such a big thing for me. Hopefully we can win it and win the World Cup. I'd love to score a goal in the final.'

That may be a far-off dream, but a more immediate reality is settling the odds with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka when they meet after training today for their weekly shooting contest. Sturridge and Ashley Cole are fierce rivals of Drogba and Anelka, with the first player to score getting to pick who is kicked out of the game.

'It's last man standing. Normally I'll send Didier in. I've made a few enemies now. I've got a list in my locker of them - so does Nico. Didier scored the last time we played and I just walked because I knew what was coming.'

With so much promise, Chelsea will be hoping Sturridge does not end up walking out for good.