Chelsea want to keep England Under-21 starlet Daniel Sturridge – and are slapping a staggering £20million price tag on his head to deter bids.
The young hotshot showed up his bosses by scoring a flurry of goals on loan at Bolton, with Owen Coyle among the managers hoping to buy him now.
Sturridge, 21, was a bit-part player under Carlo Ancelotti but could be earmarked for big things when the Italian’s successor is unveiled at Stamford Bridge.
He is desperate to be given a decent crack at making the Chelsea first-team, but admits that his taste of Premier League action at Bolton means he may have to move on – if he is kept on the fringes again by the Blues next season.
Wanderers have asked about Sturridge – both on loan or to buy – while managerless Aston Villa are also attracted, and both Liverpool and Tottenham are watching developments.
But the fee is cooling all interest at this stage, with Sturridge’s stock at an all-time high and also poised to lead England’s charge in the European Under-21 finals tonight.
Chelsea rate the Brummie-born striker in the same bracket as two other England rookies in Denmark.With Liverpool splashing out £20m on Jordan Henderson and Manchester United bidding £16m for Phil Jones, the London club believe their valuation of Sturridge to be realistic.
It is a remarkable change in fortunes for Sturridge, who was landed at a tribunal-fixed fee from Manchester City two years ago. Chelsea have paid around £4m for him so far in the deal.
However, Sturridge did so well at the Reebok Stadium – netting eight goals in a third of a season – that his reputation and quality is now being acknowledged, although the monster price tag inevitably reduces the chances of a sale.
