Southampton face competition from Stoke in their January pursuit of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge as Mark Hughes eyes an ambitious swoop
- Daniel Sturridge is a January target for both Southampton and Stoke
- Stoke boss Mark Hughes is also interested in Liverpool teammate Danny Ings
- Liverpool are adamant Sturridge will not be allowed to leave on loan next month
Stoke are ready to challenge Southampton in pursuit of a January move for Daniel Sturridge.
Mark Hughes wants to add a striker to his squad when the winter window opens and has ambitious plans to recruit the England international on loan.
Hughes also holds a strong interest in Sturridge's Liverpool team-mate Danny Ings and hopes Stoke will be able to use geography as leverage against rival clubs to secure one or the other. Newcastle, West Ham and West Bromwich Albion, are all tracking Ings.
Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge is a target for Stoke and Southampton
Liverpool are adamant Sturridge will no be allowed to leave on a temporary basis next month as Jurgen Klopp battles on domestic and European fronts.
But Stoke are set to test that resolve with Sturridge, 28, needing regular matches in his ambition to win a World Cup place.
Sturridge, who has 18 months left on his Anfield contract, has scored three goals this season in five starts and nine appearances off the bench in all competitions.
He featured for England against Lithuania in October. Hughes, who also wants a midfielder and full-back, would not be drawn on Sturridge or Ings specifically but did say: 'I think there's conversations about a lot of players.
'Some will be in regard to taking players on a permanent and there's always loan deals that can be done.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes wants to add a striker to his squad when the winter window opens
He continued: 'We are well aware of who's available and who might become available, but nothing is definite as yet.
'It's clear we need a little bit more help for the squad and a couple of extra bodies would help.'
Hughes added that Stoke's central location in the country, and close proximity to the suburbs surrounding Merseyside and Manchester, would be useful when recruiting players from those areas.
'You've got to use every means at your disposal and that plays a part in recruitment,' he said.
'We've got a good location here so why wouldn't you want to come here?
Hughes also holds a strong interest in Sturridge's Liverpool team-mate Danny Ings
He added: 'It is about the football too, because we feel we're a top-10 Premier League club and that resonates with players.
'Players look at us in a different light these days and would like to come here if they feel they're not getting the games their talent deserves.'
Hughes may be forced to field two teenage full-backs at Chelsea as an injury crisis cripples his defensive options.
Tom Edwards and Josh Tymon, both 18, are in contention to start at Stamford Bridge with Ryan Shawcross and Bruno Martins Indi out injured, Erik Pieters a major doubt, and Kurt Zouma ineligible due to his loan agreement.
Shawcross is out for at least a fortnight after limping out of the Boxing Day draw at Huddersfield with a calf injury.
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