Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has earmarked an unexpected replacement for Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool next season, according to a report.

The 29-year-old, out of contract on July 1, will end his six-year stay at Anfield this summer when he leaves the club on a free transfer. Sturridge has interest from a few teams in the Premier League, including Leicester, but is widely expected to head overseas as try his luck in MLS, with New York City FC touted as a potential destination.

Sturridge has fallen a long way down Klopp’s pecking order at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane having locked down the starting spots in the Liverpool front three.

Klopp has been linked with a series of big-name strikers, with Timo Werner and Luka Jovic both mentioned as potential targets; the Reds even being named as frontrunners to sign £51m-rated RB Leipzig striker Werner by one pundit.

But The Times reports that Klopp is not looking to spend big on Sturridge’s replacement and will instead open the first-team door for Rhian Brewster to start featuring regularly in the first-team.

The teenager has been sidelined by ankle and knee problems over the past two seasons but is so highly rated the club did not hesitate in signing him up to his first professional five-year contract last summer.

And with a full summer behind him, The Times claims Brewster will be given the chance to stake his claim for more regular football at Anfield.

Brewster addressed his injury frustrations and his efforts to impress Klopp earlier this year, saying: “It’s happened and I’m finally back fit and doing what I love and pushing to get back in the team.

“To know that the boss really wants me to be in his plans for the future is amazing, especially a boss like him.

“They could easily have left me at the academy to do my rehab but they wanted me to do my rehab with them, so I can’t thank them enough.

“During this injury I’ve had that, he has been there from beginning to the end and to know he still wants me – even though it’s been so long – gives me a great boost.

“Every time I see him he gives me a big hug. Not only him, every time I see the players they are asking about how I am, ‘How long?’, they can’t wait for me to be back in training and hopefully make my debut this year, if not next.”

Even though he got the reward of a long contract last summer, Brewster will not rest on his laurels.

“It’s not really comfort because I don’t like the comfort zone,” the 2017 Under-17 World Cup winner said of his contract.

“I like to work hard for my stuff so the injury and trying to get back fit, working hard, is all I’ve been doing.

“I want to prove to everyone that the boss has kept faith in me for a reason and I want to prove to everyone that I’m good enough to be in the first team.

“When I’m back, that is what I hope to do. It doesn’t stop, I’ll keep pushing myself.

“I’ve got to keep going and hopefully I’m here for longer than five years.”

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