Sturridge 2.0: FSG ready to make Liverpool offer to sign “monster” talent
What is it about Liverpool and January?
So often a month of chaos and desperation, the winter window has provided the Reds with gem after gem in recent times, with 2026 hopefully set to be no different.
Indeed, a string of what would prove to be stellar names have signed for the Merseysiders at the start of the year, ranging from Luis Suarez to Philippe Coutinho to Virgil van Dijk and to Luis Diaz, among plenty more.
Among that plethora of names is also 2013 arrival, Daniel Sturridge, with the then-23-year-old arriving at Anfield following a forgettable stint at Chelsea, prior to securing cult hero status for himself in his new surroundings.
A central part of the side that came so close to Premier League glory in his first full campaign at the club, the now-retired striker – who registered 98 goals and assists in 160 games for the club – proved something of a bargain considering his £15m fee, even while enduring frequent injury setbacks.
As the case of Sturridge, and others, has showcased, there is value to be found in the January market, with Arne Slot and co no pressing ahead with their own potentially astute moves in the present.
Liverpool ready to offer terms to Premier League star
In the latter days of Jurgen Klopp, the German genius also used the winter window to great benefit, having acquired Diaz in 2022, ahead of Sadio Mane’s exit just a few months later, while also adding Cody Gakpo into the fold in 2023.
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A new winger, amid the uncertainty of Mohamed Salah’s future, is likely to again be on the agenda heading into the new year, with recent reports indicating that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has decided that he wants to join Liverpool in 2026.
Available for a £65m fee, the in-demand Ghanaian is likely to have a queue of clubs chasing him, however, with the same also true of another leading Premier League target, Marc Guehi
As reported by TEAMtalk, Liverpool and FSG are believed to be among a list of 13 elite clubs who have informed the Englishman’s camp that they are ready to offer terms to him, with the 25-year-old’s current Selhurst Park deal set to expire in June.
The report hints that while the likelihood remains that Guehi will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, after missing out on his Anfield switch over the summer, Crystal Palace could still look to sell in January, rather than lose their captain for nothing.
The Reds may be somewhat back to square one, considering just how much rival interest there is in the centre-back now, yet if there is a slim chance of landing the ex-Chelsea man next month, FSG should certainly take it.
Why Guehi could be another Sturridge at Liverpool
There’s nothing better than a player arriving mid-season and hitting the ground running immediately, with Sturridge doing just that back in 2013, having scored 11 goals in just his first 16 games for the club in all competitions.
That six-month spell set the tone and the foundations for what was to follow in 2013/14, with Rodgers’ famed ‘SAS’ frontline coming within a whisker of securing the Premier League crown, with Sturridge plundering 32 goals and assists in 33 games in all that year.
While it is at the other end of the pitch where the priority lies in the modern era, another exciting English talent with Chelsea links could perhaps have a repeat impact in 2026, with Slot so desperately needing a figure like Guehi to slot in just as smoothly.
The hope would be that the ex-Swansea City loanee could help to turn the tide of this turbulent season under the Dutchman, before going on to form a central part in another title bid next season.
There may be question marks over whether a centre-back can be quite so influential, although the woes of Ibrahima Konate have highlighted the glaring need for an upgrade, with the Frenchman a “bit too much at the crime scene”, in the view of his manager.
Games
34
31
Starts
34
30
Goals (Assists)
3 (2)
1 (2)
Pass accuracy*
84%
90%
Key passes*
0.5
0.3
Tackles*
1.8
1.3
Interceptions*
0.8
0.5
Total duels won*
59%
66%
Clean sheets
11
11
Like the 2013 version of Liverpool, who desperately needed a rival or partner for Suarez to lead the line, the current iteration desperately needs a suitable colleague for Van Dijk at centre-back, with Guehi surely the prime candidate.
Lauded as a “monster” of a defender by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi – albeit while operating as part of a back three – is about as ready-made as they come, having proven his Premier League quality time and again in recent seasons.
As for 2025/26, the Three Lions talent notably ranks in the top 6% of top-flight centre-backs for assists, shot-creating actions, and progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, as well as in the top 8% for progressive passes, highlighting just what an asset he is in possession.
A threat in the opposition box, Guehi is also a master at defending his own, winning 71% of his aerial duels on average this season, as per Sofascore, as well as winning 65% of his ground duels.
Like with Sturridge and others before him, there should be no reason why he can’t come in and flourish immediately. Let’s face it, Slot no doubt needs someone too.
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