Simon Jordan believes no Premier League club wants to sign Daniel Sturridge following his release from Liverpool as he is a ‘problem’ and a ‘divisive influence’ on young players.
Former England striker Sturridge is still yet to find a new club since leaving Anfield at the end of last season.
Reports on Tuesday claimed the 29-year-old is set to make a decision about his future this week, as he considers bids from THIRTEEN clubs – but none of them are from the Premier League.
Sturridge is said to have received offers from teams in Europe, the USA and the Middle East, including a reported £9million – £60,000-a-week – contract to join Fenerbahce.
However, talkSPORT understands this deal will not happen as the Turkish club cannot afford his wages, with director of football Damien Comolli saying the transfer ‘is just not possible’.
And, asked if he would be interested in signing the striker if he was in charge of a club, former Crystal Palace owner Jordan said on Tuesday: “No. Not in any parallel universe would I sign Daniel Sturridge. Not for me.
“I wouldn’t even give him a pay as you play deal.
“I wouldn’t want Sturridge in my dressing room or at my training ground around younger players.”
When asked to clarify his thoughts, Jordan then let rip into a scathing, no-holds-barred assessment of Sturridge’s attitude, discipline and application throughout his career.
He told talkSPORT hosts Jim White and Natalie Sawyer: “I think the conventional wisdom in the game is that Daniel Sturridge is a troubled, problem player.
“He’s a very, very, very talented footballer but he’s a divisive influence. Jurgen Klopp has never had him since day one he arrived at Liverpool.
“The fact an industry that will take some of the worst people at times, and has no care or concern for how people are and what kind of individuals they are – whether that’s owners, managers or players – the fact nobody wants Sturridge will give you clear indication the industry has a certain perception of him.
“He’s one of those players who plays entirely for himself. He is, in my view, all about himself.
“He’s come out of a club like Liverpool, been marginalised by them and nobody wants him. Nobody is picking up a free option. He is a free player!
“He won’t be free in terms of wages and his agent will be trying to manifest any transfer fee into his wages, but that won’t be a deterrent to clubs if they want him.
“There is a clear message – it’s nothing to do with his betting or any of that, it’s to do with his performances and his propensity to not be fit.
“Whenever I watched him as a player I was horrified by him, I thought he was useless at the 2014 World Cup, a complete and utter waste of time at Euro 2016.
Clinton Morrison discusses who should sign Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge
“I’m not surprised he’s in this position and, I know it’s quite strident but, I think it’s good – he’s one of those players who should be doing so much more, has earned a lot of money from the game and hasn’t given quite as much back to the game as he should have done.
“Inevitably he’ll get a club, inevitably he’ll end up in the ghastly Chinese Super League or somewhere like that, but for his talent he should be playing for one of the elite clubs.
“But it’s not all about talent, it’s about their approach, their attitude and outlook, the way they apply themselves and their discipline. I think all of those are lacking in Daniel Sturridge.
“I wouldn’t take him, but I’m sure there is someone out there foolish enough to take him.”
Listen back to Simon Jordan’s scathing assessment of Daniel Sturridge above
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