Carlo Ancelotti is under even greater pressure to add to his Chelsea squad this month after striker Daniel Sturridge requested to go out on loan this month, with Liverpool among those clubs looking at taking the 21-year-old until the end of the season.
The player, signed on a free transfer in July 2009 from Manchester City, has told the club he is frustrated at his lack of first-team chances and wants a move until the end of the season.There is currently very little chance of Chelsea agreeing to a loan but his disquiet shows the depth of problems Ancelotti has among his strikers.
Once tipped as the best young player of his generation, Sturridge, who sat out his contract at Manchester City for a lucrative Bosman move to Chelsea, has not made the progress that the club hoped. He was signed by Frank Arnesen, the club's director of football, before Ancelotti arrived and since then the Italian has given the player just two Premier League starts in 18 months.
Liverpool would be expected to cover the majority of his wages of £60,000 a week, although whether he would represent a solution to their problems is debatable. In 11 Premier League substitute appearances this season so far, Sturridge has failed to score. His two goals have come in the two games against Slovakian team MSK Zilina in the Champions League.