HORNETS ON CRISETIG’S TAIL
Liverpool boss Klopp puts brakes on selling Sturridge as striker is too costly to replace
WATFORD are chasing Bologna’s Lorenzo Crisetig.
The 24-year-old Italian midfielder (right) impressed on loan at Serie A Crotone last season and will be The Reds boss is refusing to offload the England striker available this summer if his £2.6million release clause is met. Crisetig has an option in Belgium, but prefers the idea of a Premier League move. Watford will hear this this summer despite massive interest in the 27-year-old. Liverpool’s chief has spoken to senior members of his staff, and the inflated transfer market is proving a barrier to Sturridge moving on. Klopp believes any money received for Sturridge would be dwarfed by the amount it would cost to bring in another forward of similar quality. Sturridge was expected to leave Anfield this summer with a host of clubs hot on his tail from Paris Saintgermain to West Ham. But it appears that the Reds boss is standing by his decision made at the end of week. The Hornets are also trying to bring Lewis Holtby back to the Premier League.
The £5m-rated German winger has been told he is free to leave Bundesliga side last season – that the striker is going nowhere. And now – unless there is a huge offer – he will stay on Merseyside.
In the past Klopp has called Sturridge “unbelievable” and his ability is not in question. His devastating partnership with Luis Suarez during the 2014-15 campaign almost brought the Reds the Premier League title.
But he remains notoriously injury prone and that counts against him as Liverpool look to kick on in the Premier League and Europe this season.
The demands brought by Champions League qualification will bring added pressure. But all this also opens up possibilities for a player who may have an eye on going to next year’s World Cup in Russia with England. Hamburg. Newcastle and Bournemouth both want Holtby, who made 41 appearances for Spurs, but he is desperate for a move back to London.