Sturridge stays as Reds line up Ings loan move
LIVERPOOL are ready to let Danny Ings leave on loan, scuppering Daniel Sturridge’s chances of departing in January. Newcastle United, Stoke and West Ham are among the clubs to have shown an interest in Ings, who has battled back following two major knee surgeries.
Manager Jurgen Klopp recognises the 25-year-old striker needs games to regain his sharpness but at a greater level of competition than Liverpool’s Under 23 squad.
Ings has appeared as a late substitute against Everton and Bournemouth in recent weeks and is now keen to start games.
Allowing Ings to leave means Liverpool need to keep Sturridge. Valencia and Real Betis have been monitoring his situation as they weigh up a January offer but Klopp sees him as back-up to first choice Roberto Firmino.
Sturridge is desperate to play and force his way into the England reckoning for the World Cup. But Klopp still rates him highly and will continue to use the 28-year-old, even if predominantly from the bench. Dominic Solanke has also pressed his claims to feature more but Sturridge’s proven goalscoring record makes him the better option.
Sturridge still has 18 months left on his contract and in the current market Liverpool would rate him at £30million. Yet they do not intend to listen to offers until the summer.
Meanwhile, Klopp wants to turn Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into the free-scoring midfielder he never was at Arsenal. Oxlade-Chamberlain returns to the Emirates for the first time tomorrow and asked about his progress at Anfield, Klopp said: ‘I think the biggest improvement and potential is being involved in goalscoring situations.
‘It is unbelievable but he was not asked for this too much before.
‘If you watch Arsenal in the past their two decisive players were Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. They were involved in a lot of moments and decisive passes.
‘Here we put it on many more shoulders. If Alex is on the pitch he needs to be involved in these situations. There is a lot of space for improvement as well.’
Klopp made it clear that he was not criticising the 24-year-old, who only scored nine league goals for Arsenal. So far for Liverpool OxladeChamberlain has not made himself a regular pick and has scored once in five Premier League starts.
When he arrived at Anfield one of the things he hoped he had seen the back of was playing as a wing-back. Certainly Klopp knows that the England player’s best position is further forward.
Klopp said: ‘His main skills are offensive, that’s true. He is such an athlete. When he came here we spoke about his best position. He can be more involved offensively and better protected defensively. So for me it’s not a big issue if he is a winger or a midfielder.’