West Brom battling PL relegation rivals over shock Daniel Sturridge return – report
West Brom have made contact with free agent Daniel Sturridge over a shock return to The Hawthorns, according to 90min.com.
In an exclusive report they say that fellow Premier League strugglers Newcastle United and Sheffield United are also in the mix for the two-time Champions League winner.
Sturridge has been without a club since leaving Turkish outfit Trabzonspor in March 2020 under a cloud after having his contract terminated just before news broke that he had been handed a four-month worldwide football ban for breaching betting rules.
The report by 90min.com details that West Brom and Sheffield United have both made contact with Sturridge while his intermediaries have reached out to Newcastle following the long-term injury suffered by their star striker Callum Wilson.
The 31-year-old is believed to be ‘open to any Premier League offers ‘ as he looks to prove form and fitness after a long spell away from the game.
Hailing from Hockley Sturridge has roots in the Midlands and that was supposed to have played a role in his loan move to Albion in 2018 but the move was a disaster as he made just three appearances before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury.
Sturridge swoop would be at odds with Musa move
Surely this can’t be any more than hearsay after Big Sam’s recent comments on Ahmed Musa.
The Baggies boss cited a lack of funds as a reason for opting against a move for Musa with Albion already bringing in four first-team players alongside reserve goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.
Sturridge was on huge sums at Liverpool but his latest £27,000 per week contract in Turkey is perhaps an indicator that he is prepared to accept less as his career begins to draw to a close.
After nearly a year out of the game he might be hungry to show the world what he still has to offer and the dazzling footwork and clinical finishing that he displayed for years in the Premier League is unlikely to have completely disappeared.
However his injury record and the January arrival of Mbaye Diagne makes this deal appear extremely unlikely unless Albion suffer a spate of injuries.
The only feasible solution would be for him to accept a ‘pay-as-you-play’ contract to safeguard Albion against potential problems regarding his availability.
His talent is without question, but the numbers just do not add up for Albion.
In other West Brom news, Big Sam fumes at officiating in Manchester United draw.
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