5 players that clubs regret selling

Football is evolving; there’s no two ways about it. In order to spring to the dizzy heights of Champions League glory, clubs now need to ensure they are as clinical off the pitch as they are on it.The days when clubs could snap up world beaters on a free are a distant memory; teams can now lure the greatest only with hefty fees, which takes a toll on their finite budgets. So how do the big boys across Europe continue to fuel their financial mills? Indeed, the most effective method seems to be flogging the apparent dead weight in their respective squads; a simple and relatively obvious solution. Very often, a player may be wrongly suited to a gargantuan outfit and, therefore, a move away suits both parties. The individual enjoys a new challenge at a more appropriate playing level, and the fee paid for him acts as leverage for the big club’s next bumper deal.On the contrary, the said player may be an unrealised gem with the potential to flourish into the next Lionel Messi. This happens far more regularly than we anticipate. A manager deems the youngster surplus to requirements, only to see his estimated worth elevate to triple the original 12 months down the line, and the selling club are left scratching their heads.Let’s take a look at five sales in particular which the teams are probably regretting.

#1 Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea > Liverpool)

The Brendan Rodgers empire may well have been erased from the memory banks for the majority of Liverpool fans since Jürgen Klopp’s arrival. But there’s no doubting that the Northern-Irishman played a pivotal part in the Reds’ pursuit of Daniel Sturridge.

On the fringes of a star-studded Chelsea crop, Sturridge was more often than not deployed on the flank where he struggled to make an impact. Chelsea’s seemingly limitless budget enabled them to lure the continent’s finest, and the Englishman found it difficult to break into the Blues’ frame. 

A brief resurrection occurred in 2011, when he was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers, where he immediately made an impact. Played through the centre, Sturridge scored on his debut for the Trotters, bagging an injury-time winner against Wolves. An instant fan-favourite, the forward concluded his spell with a return of 8 goals in 12 games.

Surprisingly, his red-hot form did no favours for Sturridge at Stamford Bridge, and he was sold to Liverpool two years later for a fee of £12 million. But it would be Sturridge who would have the last laugh. He flourished under Rodgers; he had renewed self-belief after he was allocated his desired role through the middle, and he began racking up regular game time.

Having formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez and Phillippe Coutinho, Sturridge netted 21 goals in 29 appearances come the close of his first full season. Such great form propelled the forward into England’s No. 9 shirt, and he hasn’t looked back since. Although Chelsea may have.