John Barnes thinks that Liverpool might struggle to offload Daniel Sturridge come the end of the season.
The forward is currently out with a hip problem, having been ill with a virus in February too – and our legendary former winger thinks potential suitors won’t pay his wages or the transfer fee we’ll demand.
Speaking to IB Times UK, he said: “I think he’s got a contract, so, unless someone comes in and makes a bid that Liverpool accept and are obviously going to pay him the salary that he wants, he will remain at Anfield. When people talk about players leaving clubs, first of all you need somebody to buy them and you need somebody to match their wages. If that doesn’t happen, players stay at clubs.
“If that doesn’t happen, and, with his injury record, clubs may not come in for him, it’s a question of… If Daniel Sturridge is fit, of course he’s going to be in Liverpool’s team. Fit and motivated. If Daniel Sturridge is injured, obviously this is when the question marks come up against him and about his future at Liverpool. But as I said, unless somebody is willing to pay the salary that Daniel Sturridge is on and pay the transfer fee, he will be at Liverpool next year.”
For us, the issue with Sturridge is no longer his fitness and we reckon Barnes is regurgitating the cliche rather than analysing the facts.
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Even when he’s been healthy, Sturridge hasn’t been included in Liverpool’s starting XI under Jurgen Klopp this campaign. Instead the German prefers Roberto Firmino, who has better movement and defensive attributes. He also links up better with Coutinho and Sadio Mane. There was a time when our no.10 used to thread endless through-balls to an onrushing Sturridge, but the forward has lost his pace, and with it, his threat in behind…
For the player’s benefit, he needs to move and join a club who suit his style so he can maximise the best years of his career. He’s too good to be stuck on our bench for a manager who doesn’t use him the way he wants to be deployed.
This isn’t a dig at either, it’s just clear the relationship doesn’t work.