According to reports in the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed rumours that Daniel Sturridge, who has been admired by West Ham United for a long time according to ESPN, will be sold during the January transfer window.

What's the word, then?

Well, a report in The Mirror on Monday claimed that Sturridge was keen to make his Anfield exit in the New Year in order to save his dream of making the England squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer, but the Liverpool Echo now say that Reds boss Klopp is ready to block him leaving.

The 27-year-old has found first-team starts hard to come by this season – he has featured for just 430 minutes in total this term – and his future has been the subject of speculation after he was an unused substitute in the successive Premier League wins against West Ham and Southampton.

ESPN says the former are long-term admirers of the striker, who has lost his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad, but Klopp believes he will have plenty of opportunities to impress between now and January.

What did Klopp say?

According to the Liverpool Echo, the 50-year-old said: "I can imagine a player with his quality is not happy that he is not starting all the time. I really can imagine that. But that's all.

"At this moment we need all our players. We have November, even if he feels a little different."

Could he still be sold?

It's difficult to say.

According to The Mirror during the summer, Klopp wasn't keen to lose the centre-forward because he felt that it would be too expensive to replace him, and he may still feel the same way.

While Sturridge may not be his first-choice striker option, if Roberto Firmino was to suffer an injury then the 27-year-old may well get the call to play up top.

Do West Ham need him?

When you consider they have Andy Carroll, Javier Hernandez, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew as their senior striker options you would think not, but 11 goals in 12 Premier League matches this season suggests otherwise.

With the Irons having the leakiest defence in the top flight they certainly need more firepower at the other end, and Sturridge would certainly bring that considering his record at this level.

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