- Inter Milan play down talk over loan deal for Daniel Sturridge
- Liverpool striker tipped to join Serie A side this month
- Sturridge eager for regular first-team football
- SEE MORE: Matip slams his own performance in Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat
Inter Milan appear to have distanced themselves from a proposed loan move for Daniel Sturridge.
The Liverpool striker has looked likely to join the Serie A side on a temporary basis in aid of gaining regular first-team football.
Sturridge’s desire to leave the club is fuelled primarily by his wish to earn a place in England’s World Cup squad, which remains uncertain given his injury problems and subsequent lack of game time on Merseyside this season.
Despite reports suggesting an agreement is close, Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has admitted the club already has plenty of viable attacking options.
Ausilio told Italian media outlet Premium Sport: “Sturridge? I don’t exclude anything, but we made our evaluations. We already have players for that role.”
“If there are opportunities in the future then we could have some movement.”
The prospect of failing to replace Sturridge has surfaced as reason for concern, especially with the club being no closer to filling the void left by Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool can’t afford to enter the remaining months of the Premier League campaign with Danny Ings, who has featured predominantly for the U23s this season, and the inexperienced Dominic Solanke as the only orthodox backups to Roberto Firmino.
Sturridge may have only played a minor role so far this season, but his talent and experience is certainly worth keeping hold of if the club has no plans to strengthen before February.
The Englishman proved his ability to make an impact towards the end of last season, contributing a string of bright performances as the Reds finished the season strong to consolidate a top four spot.