Quantcast
Home   >   Transfer News   >   Arsenal backed as favourites ahead of Chelsea to sign £20m Sturridge

Arsenal backed as favourites ahead of Chelsea to sign £20m Sturridge

By on February 9, 2016

Arsenal have been installed as the 5/1 favourites ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City to sign Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge this summer.

Sturridge has endured another injury-plagued season with a series of complaints restricting the striker to making just six appearances in all competitions so far.

Reports over the weekend suggested that the 26-year-old was ready to leave Anfield with the Daily Mail claiming he had grown frustrated by the lack of support form Liverpool over the perceived notion he wasn’t working hard enough to get himself fit.

Obviously this led to a flurry of transfer speculation with Arsenal among a whole host of Premier League clubs linked with a move for the striker at the end of the season.

Bookmakers have now created a special market on where Sturridge would end up if he does leave Liverpool this summer and Willian Hill are one of several who have installed Arsenal as 5/1 favourites.

The bookie has Chelsea second on 10/1 while Manchester City [12/1] and Tottenham [14/1] are also in the running, but it’s the Emirates where the bookmakers are tipping Sturridge to head to.

Obviously this is just an indication as to where the striker could go and the odds will fluctuate over the coming months but would it be a wise move if we did sign Sturridge?

There is no doubting his talent and he’s world class when 100% fit, but surely another injury-plagued player is the last thing we need? Our record at keeping players susceptible to injury fit is appalling. You only have to look at the likes of Diaby, Wilshere and Rosicky as recent examples.

If we could somehow keep Sturridge fit, then it would be a no-brainer, especially if the Daily Mail are right in their assessment that he could cost just £20m due to his poor fitness record.

But it’s a big IF, and I wouldn’t be confident in Arsenal’s medical team being able to keep Sturridge from joining Wilshere on the treatment table.

The striker is set to make his latest comeback for Liverpool against West Ham tonight and I doubt anyone would be surprised if he picked up another injury during the coming weeks. But if he manages to stay fit during the second half of the season, then I personally don’t see the Merseysiders agreeing to sell this summer anyway.