Football
Mike Whalley 9y

Daniel Sturridge near new Liverpool contract, sources say

Striker Daniel Sturridge is close to signing a new contract that will keep him at Liverpool until 2019, sources have told ESPN FC.

The England international has agreed in principle to a deal that could earn him up to 150,000 pounds a week with bonuses factored in, sources said.

- Rodgers confident England won't call up Sturridge

Those bonuses would depend on his appearance and goalscoring record during the course of the contract.

Sturridge is likely to be the first of a number of players signed up to contract extensions over the next few months.

Liverpool are also considering new deals for captain Steven Gerrard, forward Raheem Sterling and midfielder Jordan Henderson.

Sturridge has scored 36 goals in 52 appearances since arriving at Anfield from Chelsea for 12 million pounds in January 2013.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has been keen to reward the performances of a forward who played a key role in securing Champions League qualification.

Sturridge enjoyed a prolific 52-goal Premier League partnership with Luis Suarez as Liverpool finished runners-up to Manchester City last season.

The England striker hit 21 of those goals to finish the campaign as the league's second-top scorer, behind Suarez, who moved to Barcelona during the summer in a 75 million pounds deal.

Following that departure, Sturridge was set to assume extra responsibility in attack, but his season so far has been interrupted by injury.

He has not played since suffering a thigh injury in training while on England duty on Sept. 5.

Sturridge was absent on Wednesday as Liverpool lost 1-0 to Swiss champions Basel in a Champions League Group B match.

Rodgers has indicated that the striker could make his return when West Brom visit Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.

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