Potters Linked With England Striker

Last updated : 24 June 2011 By Dan Buxton

Stoke have today been linked with Chelsea's England Under-21 striker Daniel Sturridge, with reports branding around a £6m fee.

Former Manchester City striker Sturridge, 21, has made only 26 appearances in 2 years at Stamford Bridge, yet is now under his third manager in West London.

With the Blues chasing two big money strikers, and January's British record £50m buy Fernando Torres set to stay with Drogba, Kalou and Anelka, Sturridge knows his first team chances are receding all the time.

Sturridge was born and bred in Cheshire and started out at Manchester City before refusing to sign a new contract as a 19-year-old and leaving for Chelsea, in a deal that cost the London side £5.5m, a figure set by a tribunal.

After failing to push into the first team Sturridge joined Bolton on loan in January and netted 8 times in 12 appearances at the Reebok before playing his part in the Three Lions doomed U21 championship bid earlier this month.