Arsenal: Arsene Wenger ready to bid £30m for Daniel Sturridge

Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and are willing to make a £30m ($44m) bid for the player in the summer. The Gunners are in the market for a striker and have earmarked the England international as their prime target for the upcoming summer transfer window.

The Mirror reports that Arsene Wenger has taken up his side's need for a proper centre forward and has earmarked the 26-year-old to take over from the likes of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, who have flattered to deceive this season. Wenger himself has revealed that Walcott's situation at the club is under scrutiny, with the player failing to live up to the standards has resulted on him being benched for a major part of the campaign.

Sturridge's future at Anfield is also under question, with Jurgen Klopp not being completely enthusiastic about using him to his full potential. Having missed a major part of the season through injury, he was on the bench in both legs against Dortmund and was only used in the second leg against Villarreal, where he scored to help the Reds secure a comfortable 3-0 win over the Spanish club.

The striker is therefore not completely pleased with his situation at the club and could consider a move to the Emirates if he is promised first team action. "I am someone who wants to play every minute of every match so maybe when I'm not starting, it's hard to take," Sturridge had previously said.

There are unlikely to be too many bids for his signature, with a move to Chelsea and Manchester City out of the equation, since the player has already spent some time there in the first team. Manchester United could be interested, but the heavy rivalry between the two teams mean that such a move would be difficult to manoeuvre.