Reports: AC Milan to make move for Liverpool star
What's the story?
Big things were expected of AC Milan this season after a change in ownership which allowed them to spend generously during the summer transfer window. Milan splurged on players like Leonardo Bonucci, Andre Silva and Ricardo Rodriguez, spending over £200 million over the course of three months.
However, Milan's expenditure has not reaped any rewards, with the Italian club currently sitting 7th in the Serie A table after 13 games. Goals have been hard to come by for Milan, and according to reports from the Guardian, they have identified Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge as a potential solution for their problem.
In case you didn't know...
Daniel Sturridge is considered to be one of the best finishers in England, and he showed his quality in his second season at Liverpool, when he linked up with Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling to devastating effect. His ability to drop deep and disrupt defences has drawn him praise from several players and pundits, and his pace and technique have helped him score 63 goals for Liverpool.
Unfortunately, he has garnered a reputation for being injury prone, and the striker has been injured fifteen times since signing for Liverpool. Out of a total of 184 Premier League games that Sturridge could have played since signing for Liverpool, he has only made 97 appearances.
The heart of the matter
Daniel Sturridge has struggled with injuries during his time at Liverpool and has fallen out of favour with manager Jurgen Klopp in recent seasons. The English striker has made only 8 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, with four of those coming off the bench.
Sturridge was dropped from the English national side in a couple of recent international friendlies. England coach Gareth Southgate justified the decision by saying that Sturridge needed to play more frequently to be considered for the squad.
The Liverpool striker has taken heed of Southgate's statement and has been pushing for a move in order to secure regular football. This will help him in his bid to make the England squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Video
Author's Take
AC Milan need goals and Daniel Sturridge needs to play. The move could be one born out of necessity for both parties, and if Sturridge can stay fit till January, he could be playing in Italy soon. However, it's unlikely that Liverpool will allow him to enjoy his time in Italy too long, and may attempt to restrict him to a loan move.