By DAN KARELL
Liverpool has kicked off the English Premier League transfer season by completing the signing of former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge.
The Reds will be adding Sturridge to an attack that has struggled at times this season, with only Luis Suarez providing a consistent goal-scoring threat.
Sturridge, 23, joins Liverpool on a reported £12 million transfer fee and could make his debut this weekend, when the Reds face Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.
Here are some other stories to get your Wednesday started:
CITY AWAIT WORD ON AGUERO INJURY
Manchester City’s injury woes went from bad to worse on Tuesday afternoon.
Shortly after scoring a penalty-kick goal, striker Sergio Aguero pulled up with what has now been diagnosed as a hamstring strain. The Argentine is expected to miss up to two weeks of action, including the important match against Arsenal on Sunday January 13.
Roberto Mancini can ill afford to have Aguero on the training table for a long period of time, having scored 10 goals this season, tied for the top mark on the team. City will also be without Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure, and Kolo Toure for the coming weeks, among others.
CHELSEA TRIGGER RELEASE CLAUSE, INCHES CLOSER TO SIGNING BA
Newcastle striker Demba Ba has been given permission by the club to speak with Chelsea, and as such, has been left out of his team’s squad for their match tonight against Everton, according to an official statement on Newcastle’s website.
Chelsea has been negotiating with Ba’s representatives for the past few days, and though the talks seemed to have hit a snag, it seems that both sides have agreed to meet in London, and it is only a matter of time before Ba is introduced at Stamford Bridge.
The transfer bid is thought to be in the region of £7 million, according to reports in England.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND MIDFIELDER GÖTZE WON’T BE SOLD
The young German international has been the subject of intense transfer speculation ever since bursting on the scene in 2009, but in an interview with German publication Bild, Borussia Dortmund manager Marc Zorc has waived away any chances of Götze leaving.
Zorc was quoted saying that Götze feels at home in Dortmund, and at the age of 20, still can develop into an even better player.
Previous reports have stated that it would take a bid of at least €35 million for Götze to switch teams.
REAL MADRID DEFENDER PEPE TO MISS A MONTH
The Brazilian-born Portuguese international centerback Pepe underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, according to a statement from Real Madrid.
There has been no timetable for his return, but local media have speculated he could be out for a month.
Pepe had already been set to miss Real Madrid’s next match due to accumulation of yellow cards, and with his backline teammate Sergio Ramos also suspended for the next match, Jose Mourinho will have a massive selection headache ahead of Sunday’s home match against Real Sociedad.
QUICK KICKS
Chelsea and Arsenal scoff at Wesley Sneijder wage demands. (REPORT)
Brazil releases squad for upcoming South American U-20 Championships, includes Barcelona product Rafael “Rafinha” Alcantara (REPORT)
Mexico’s Club Atlas manager Tomás Boy has slammed El Tri players Miguel Sabah and Rafa Márquez for spurning his club for more lucrative salaries elsewhere. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? See Sturridge helping Liverpool’s inconsistent attack? Think City can still catch Manchester United without Aguero? How do you see Ba fitting in at Chelsea?
Share your thoughts below.