By Arun Nair – (@Nair_39)
Liverpool are close to finalising deals to sign Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge and Blackpool’s Tom Ince in January, according to numerous media outlets and sources close to the club. The duo are expected to complete their moves within the first two weeks of the transfer window, while Brendan Rodgers will hope they provide added firepower to his side’s profligate attack.
Sturridge, 23, is expected to cost the club around £12million, after Liverpool reportedly failed to land the Chelsea forward on loan in the summer, with a weekly wage of £60,000. The English striker has tried in vain to break into the Chelsea first team, never trully cementing a key role in the starting eleven despite allegedly having an inflated value of his own importance to the side, and often operating from the right wing to accomodate the likes of former Blues Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, or allow Chelsea’s continued persistence with struggling former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
His goals tally at Chelsea is decent, if unspectacular, notching 15 goals since the start of 2011-12 over 52 appearances. The forward has all the attributes to succeed, with pace, finishing prowess and excellent technical ability – something that will have piqued Rodgers’ interest, but inconsistency has plagued Sturridge throughout his career. Fortunately, he has youth on his side, as well as undoubtedly possessing supreme confidence in his own abilities, bordering dangerously towards arrogance. Rodgers will hope to be able to get the best out of Sturridge’s mercurial talent.
Ince, the 20 year old son of former England star Paul Ince, has excelled in the Championship, rising in prominence this year after scoring 13 goals in 21 appearances for Blackpool this season. If the move goes ahead, Ince will find himself in familiar surroundings at Anfield; He came through the Academy before leaving Liverpool just 16 months ago for a nominal compensation fee after rejecting the offer of a new contract with the Reds in order to further his fledgling career, having made just one substitute appearance in the League Cup during his spell at Liverpool.
The risky, and brave, career move seems to have paid off, with his performances for the Seasiders attracting the interest of his former employers. The move will ensure eyebrows are raised as Liverpool are set to pay around £4-6million for a player that was on their books little over a year ago, but it is unlikely that Ince would have progressed as far if he had stayed at the club. Rodgers will seemingly continue to place faith in youth as already this season, with Raheem Sterling becoming a regular starter while Andre Wisdom and Suso have also featured.
What do you think of these signings? Both represent risks, as Sturridge has falttered to decieve at times with Ince lacks experience at Premiership level. However, Rodgers believes that the duo can bring much-needed goals and support to the Reds attack as Liverpool look to launch an assault on the top four. Do you think these signings will be successful? Please leave your comments below.
I thought we were over signing overrated overpriced English players. For the money we were supposedly going to spend for Sturridge why scout the continent and sign much better players for lower price? Mertens, Bony, Van Wolfenski, and many more good players out there. Stop wasting money on Sturridge, he’s not good enough and certainly not 12m.
Get Rodgers OUT!!!!
Get FSG OUT!!!!
Sturridge dnt worth the price,la liga and dutch league has talents we can tap ,how much did Michu cost the swans
If we dont see anyone better than these two Rodgers is hopeless, he will sell England an international and replace him with a kid, that will stenghten us wont it ?
we need Erikson or at least a proven goalscorer to go with Sturidge if we get him, we have had a full six moths to identify players – no more excuses.
Downing? Oh please wake up! £20m well and truly down the drain! It’s the Jan transfer window. Unfortunately there are very few quality strikers available right now and who want to move,at the right price. Maybe Kenny could return the £35m he wasted on that cart horse Carroll to LFC. That would help Rogers!
Time for FSG to put their money where their mouth is – especially Tom “we can compete with any club” Werner! Rodgers was a big backwards step talks the talk buts never walked the walk. Jose mourinho wants back to the prem, lets get him and hand him a blank cheque!!
Sturridge may be the best available – why would players like Huntelaar or Llorente choose to come to L’pool? But we need a quality winger to ease the pressure on Sterling – Ince is good but only a prospect. What about Feghouli from Valencia – 22, fast, skillfull, can score with both feet, play anywhere along the front, and should be available for about £8m. Sign him!
Why would you want rodgers out look what hes did with one striker and alot of young players such as sterling,suso,allen,shelvey and wisdom. We have played well every game apart from the arsenal game , hes got suarez scoring a lot of goals and just imagine what we could do with another few strikers and winger(s) . Fsg have given us fianancial backing and are starting to redevelop anfield . They may not have spent much on deadline day , but as they said they have money and gave some to rodgers, but it was ian ayres fault !!
Everyone is taking crap about these players that you think is amazing , probably because your sad and play with them in fifa or watch youtube videos of the its better buying players proven in the premier leagure or champinship ,although of course you can buy world class players or young spanish palyers for a gamble , but a lot of these 8 million wingers would be shiteee in the premier league they woulndt have the tempo , look at assaidi ( barely played because he isnt quite fit as of a bad injury ) absolutely amazing cost 2 million and plays for morroco and played for heereveen !!
Sell tom ince £250.000 buy him back for ^ mill …………fantastic piece of business. Thank god Rafas boys are starting to come through the ranks. Thats the only + so far. Were worse of at this point this year than last season. Weve played well in every game/ thats a laugh…what about stoke at home, swansea at home, aston villa at home. There are better players than ince & sturridge. We’ll see if rodgers can cut it…..we have a mediocre team with a mediocre manager. The old regime & FSg are to blame for this. The old regime for chasing the best manager we had sinc Paisley, Shanks & dalglish (1st Stint) & FSG for not Approaching him when they got rid of kenny. FACT
What did you do, just say whatever it is you wanted to make people mad?! You cant just say something like that and never give any backup for it! Youve bought to at the very least give me a cause to assume that you understand what youre speaking about, in any other case, you simply sound like some kid with a grudge!