Sturridge could make it big at Bridge

Carlo Ancelotti has landed Middlesbrough keeper Ross Turnbull in a surprise deal and Chelsea also swooped for unsettled Manchester City striker Danny Sturridge.

The 19-year-old reportedly wanted £55,000 a week to stay at Eastlands and when City’s money men baulked at that demand Chelsea swooped to sign the youngster on a four-year contract.

The exact fee will be set by a tribunal with City chasing £10million for the promising forward and Chelsea willing to offer around £3million.

But how will the Birmingham-born striker do at the Bridge under Ancelotti?

Sturridge hardly set the world alight at Eastlands and only made 16 league appearances for City last season, scoring four goals, while his career statistics tell us he scored only six goals in 32 games in all competitions.

Chelsea technical director Frank Arnesen certainly saw something in Sturridge, who will be part of Chelsea’s first-team squad.

But Ancelotti has admitted the striker, who was a bit-part player in Manchester, will have to improve, he said: “Sturridge will be a good striker for Chelsea and will be in the first-team squad this season.

“He has a lot of quality because he’s a striker who is quick and intelligent in his movement for others. I like this. It’s important that he improves. It’s good for him to score a goal but he has to improve.”

The pacy Sturridge certainly has potential and if Ancelotti and Arnesen can develop him alongside the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba then he could be a bargain buy for the Londoners.