Rumour Mongering: The Future of Liverpool’s Two Dans

Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings. Both appear to have fallen behind not just Roberto Firmino on the striking depth chart but also Dominic Solanke, and as a result there have been rumours in recent weeks that one or the other—but not both—could be leaving the club this month.

Until now, though, the specifics of the situation haven’t been clear. Now, if reports from ESPNFC are to be believed, they are. One of the two will leave this month, and if Daniel Sturridge can find himself a new permanent home—a club willing to pay for his services—it will be him.

Southampton and West Ham both reportedly remain interested in Sturridge, but it remains to be seen if will be willing to pay Liverpool an appropriate fee and can convince the player to make a permanent switch to join up, as the Reds are not interested in letting Sturridge go on loan.

If it looks as though a permanent departure for Sturridge is not going to happen, and only at that point, the club will then entertain loan offers for Ings, with Southampton again as well as Newcastle United having been mooted as potential short-term landing spots for 25-year-old.

All told, then, it seems almost certain at least one will depart before the month is out. But then that isn’t exactly a surprise, and there’s always the chance that ESPNFC—who don’t have a track record of being especially reliable on Liverpool matters—are just putting two and two together.

If they’re right in this case, though, it gives us some insight into not just what Liverpool might do this month but also into how Jürgen Klopp sees his striker depth chart, with Ings still perhaps having a future at the club while Sturridge is free to leave permanently.