Liverpool Transfer News: Daniel Sturridge 'Ready to Quit' Amid Latest Rumours

Daniel Sturridge is reportedly frustrated with his situation at Liverpool this season after losing his place in the starting XI and is "ready to quit" the club. The striker is attracting interest from Stoke City and West Ham United ahead of the January transfer window. 

That's according to the Mirror's Darren Lewis, who noted the England international has "accepted he is not wanted" despite his insistence he is prepared to compete for game time with Roberto Firmino and even Divock Origi, who is also said to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

West Ham are crying out for goals—they've netted just 11 in the Premier League this season, better only than Middlesbrough, Swansea City, Hull City and Sunderland.

Summer acquisitions Simone Zaza, Jonathan Calleri and Andre Ayew were all drafted in to add firepower to the Hammers squad, but none have the found the net in the Premier League thus far.

As for Stoke, they are said to be keen admirers of Sturridge, who could provide an alternative to Wilfried Bony. The Manchester City striker arrived on loan in the summer but aside from a brace against Swansea in October, he has struggled to make an impact.

Sturridge has netted four goals in the EFL Cup this season and offered a timely reminder of his talents in England's 3-0 win over Scotland on Friday, per ITV Football:

His efforts earned the praise of interim Three Lions interim boss Gareth Southgate, per the Times' Henry Winter:

According to Lewis, Southgate added: 

"

He is a goal-scorer, a talented player and his mentality to working with us has been excellent. 

Every striker has a slightly different way of playing and he has some brilliant footwork. 

He likes to drop into different areas of the field. He works for the team, he wants to be part of the team.

"

Sturridge isn't a natural fit in manager Jurgen Klopp's high-energy, pressing system, despite the fact he's Liverpool's most clinical player in front of goal.

Indeed, at the start of the season, it would have been almost inconceivable Liverpool could net 30 goals without the 27-year-old contributing a single one.

Di Marzio's Joseph Musker and football writer Tom McMahon believe neither club would appeal to Sturridge, but if he were to leave, it would be for a substantial fee:

Indeed, despite the size of the two clubs, both would seem a step down from Liverpool, who are shaping up for a title challenge—or a UEFA Champions League place at least.

His record of 58 goals in 102 outings for the Reds could attract attention from more illustrious sides, however, if Sturridge were to pursue a move away from Anfield.

In the meantime, he'll hope to impress during his limited opportunities—while he is yet to play a full game in the league this season, he'd have expected to score at least once or twice in 367 minutes on the pitch.

If he can improve on that, he could yet prove his importance to Liverpool in the coming months.