Liverpool have reportedly made a bid for Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge as a replacement for West Ham-bound Andy Carroll.
Reds’ boss Brendan Rodgers will have to to sell before he can buy Fulham’s Clint Dempsey although Charlie Adams is set to join Stoke City in a deal worth around £5million. Adams has had a medical at Stoke and the deal is likely to be announced later today but that still leaves Rodgers with £3million to find for a deal for Dempsey he is looking at a loan deal for Sturridge instead.
Carroll’s departure for West Ham seems assured after Rodgers confirmed last night that he has headed to Upton Park ahead of a season-long loan. The 23-year-old England international will join the Hammers for the rest of the season with a view to an £18million permanent move next summer.
Carroll had previously been averse to a move to West Ham preferring instead to wait for a possible return to Newcastle, but that possibility receded into the distance with Newcastle only prepared to pay £12million for a striker they sold to Liverpool for £35million in January 2011. Now Carroll looks set to be reunited with former Toon boss Sam Allardyce at West Ham along with his former Magpies team-mate and mentor Kevin Nolan.
Chelsea were reported to have slapped a £25million price tag on Sturridge but could let him go out on loan if they complete the signing of Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen later today. Arsenal and Spurs are also said to be interested in Sturridge but Liverpool appear to be in the box seat.
Dempsey looks set to leave Fulham today but Sunderland are also keen while reports this morning claim that Aston Villa have had a bid accepted by the Cottagers.
