Rumour Mongering: La Liga Clubs Battle for Sturridge Signature

There’s been plenty of speculation that Daniel Sturridge could leave Liverpool in January, either on loan or permanently. There’s even been some talk of a move to the continent being possible—or at the very least of it perhaps being in the player’s best interest to perhaps head to Serie A in search of playing time and form.

Nobody has been talking up Spain as a potential destination. Mostly because after the big three, nobody in La Liga has a lot of money to throw around. Plus there’s the part where English players rarely leave the shores of England behind and, on the rare cases that they do, don’t tend to end up playing their football in Spain.

That could change if Real Betis get their way in January. Assuming, of course, they’re actually interested in bringing Daniel Sturridge in on loan. But that’s just what Spanish football outlet Gol say they’re trying to do at this very moment, claiming Betis have reached out to Liverpool and are attempting to cut a deal.

More than that, it’s not just Betis in Spain who are said to be interested—local rivals Sevilla are also meant to want to bring Sturridge to town according to the report. Gol, though, claim if he’s going to head to Spain, Sturridge would favour Betis as he would be guaranteed the starting job with the comfortably mid-table side.

Betis, meanwhile, are said to be looking to negotiate not just a half-season loan but a purchase option on the 28-year-old Englishman. Sevilla, based on other Spanish reports, would only consider taking Sturridge in January in a permanent deal—and might consider trying to swap midfielder Steven N’Zonzi to help fund it.

It’s all rather a lot to take in, honestly, given there’s been no hint of Sturridge moving to Spain until today and now two clubs in the same city are meant to be battling to sign him. And of course, as is the case in the land of rumour mongering, it’s almost certain to amount to a whole nothing when it’s all said and done.

If Sturridge has no future at Anfield, though, with Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings both potential options to become Roberto Firmino’s primary backup, he’ll need to move in January to have a shot at playing in the world cup. And who knows, maybe it’ll even be to La Liga to join Real Betis or Sevilla.