According to an exclusive from The Express, Southampton are lining up a January loan bid for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, with the view to £25million permanent transfer next summer.

What's the word?

As Football FanCast discussed earlier this week, Southampton and Liverpool have struck up a rather unique relationship in the transfer market, with the latter club splashing out just shy of £100million on the former's talent over the last few summers - their biggest outlay being a £36million deal for Saido Mane in the last transfer window.

But The Express suggest a role reversal in January, with Southampton reportedly preparing a loan bid for Liverpool's out-out-favour front-man Daniel Sturridge, who has made just four Premier League starts this season and is still awaiting his first goal in the top flight.

The Express also mention interest from West Ham and Stoke City, echoing recent reports from Mirror Football - who claim the former Chelsea and Man City striker is ready to force an exit in the new year.

Does Sturridge have a future at Anfield?

Currently, the situation looks bleak. Despite scoring in last term's Europa League final, Jurgen Klopp has made it abundantly clear this season that Sturridge doesn't fit into his gegenpressing philosophy, which asks the central striker to trigger the high press.

Roberto Firmino has overtaken the England international in that regard, demonstrating fantastic chemistry with Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho in the process, whilst even 21-year-old Divock Origi, very much still a diamond in the rough, has been preferred to Sturridge on occasion this season.

Last weekend, when Liverpool coincidentally faced Southampton, provided perhaps the greatest evidence yet of Klopp losing his faith in Sturridge. As revealed on Match of the Day, Coutinho, Firmino and Mane travelled in excess of 30,000 miles collectively during the international break and it showed in a somewhat laboured attacking performance at St. Mary's. Despite this, Sturridge started on the bench and wasn't brought on until the final twelve minutes.

Would he drop down the table?

No doubt, Sturridge is a phenomenal talent - perhaps the most naturally gifted England striker of his generation - and has always scored consistently when fully fit wit the exception of the current campaign. But having already plied his trade with three of the Premier League's top clubs, it seems unlikely the 27-year-old will be completing another move to the division's summit any time soon.

So a move down the league, especially if its to take place mid-season, seems the more plausible scenario. At the same time, Southampton represent a much sturdier proposition than Stoke City or West Ham, who are currently looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone after poor starts to the campaign - although the Potters have steadily improved in recent weeks.

That being said, in regards to a permanent move to the south coast, we're not so convinced. Southampton have shown a lack of ambition in recent years but Sturridge will be well aware Europa League clubs, at a bare minimum, will hold an interest in his services - even if it requires a move abroad.