Brendan Rodgers believes he is close to agreeing a loan deal for Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes he is close to agreeing a loan deal for Daniel Sturridge - but Chelsea need to find a replacement before he is allowed to leave.

GettyImagesDaniel Sturridge could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge

Sources at Liverpool have told ESPN that Sturridge is ready to make the move to Anfield, even though there have been reports of Arsenal and Tottenham making a late bid for the services of the striker. who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Saturday.

Bayern Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle has emerged as a key man in this transfer saga, with Chelsea believed to be close to tying up a £20 million deal for the young Germany international.

Once that transfer is confirmed, Sturridge will be free to tie up a loan move that will bring his bench-warming duties at Stamford Bridge to an end.

Liverpool boss Rodgers has been chasing Sturridge's signature all summer and his decision to allow Andy Carroll to complete a loan move to West Ham on Thursday night suggests he is confident of completing the deal to bring the England forward to Anfield on transfer deadline day.

by:http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1147073/liverpool-still-keen-on-chelsea's-daniel-sturridge?cc=4716