Daniel Sturridge is ready to leave Chelsea in the January transfer window and appears to have chosen Liverpool as his destination, according to the Evening Standard.

The striker is believed to be the subject of interest of a number of clubs but has his heart set on a move to Anfield and Liverpool have begun talks with Chelsea over a £15million deal.

Sturridge has become increasingly frustrated at his lack of opportunities to play in his preferred role as a striker through the middle, with misfiring Spaniard Fernando Torres seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.

After signing from Manchester City for £6.5million in 2009, Sturridge struggled to break into the side and was eventually loaned out to Bolton Wanderers in January of 2011 where he enjoyed a hugely successful spell scoring eight goals in 12 Premier League games.

He continued this good form upon returning to Stamford Bridge for the 2011-2012 campaign but struggled to maintain these standards during the second half of the season.

Sturridge who has scored 24 goals in 95 appearances for the Blues, most of these while playing out of position wide on the right, has now fallen increasingly out of favour following the arrivals of the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar, and Victor Moses in the summer.

Liverpool made a failed attempt to acquire him on loan in the summer but manager Brendan Rodgers has been assured funds will be available to enable a permanent deal in the new year, and Sturridge himself is evidently keen on the move.