Liverpool leading Tottenham in race to sign unsettled Chelsea star Sturridge

Liverpool are leading the race for Daniel Sturridge and are preparing a £10 million bid for the Chelsea forward.

 Brendan Rodgers, the Reds’ manager, has made the 22-year-old one of his top targets and is confident of beating off competition from Tottenham.

 Sturridge is currently being treated for viral meningitis, which is expected to keep him out of the Olympics, but is considering his future after falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge last season.

 Liverpool and Spurs have both made their interest in Sturridge known through third parties, with the Merseyside club ready to offer a more attractive salary package and a regular starting spot.

 "There are a few clubs interested but Liverpool are ready to make a big move," a source told us.

 "It would be a real statement for them and they could offer the player what he wants - in terms of money and playing time.

" The England international, whose situation is also being monitored by Arsenal and Manchester City, will hold talks with Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo about his future after finding himself relegated to the substitutes bench towards the end of last season.

 Sturridge is understood to blame a lack of opportunities for his failure to claim a place in England’s Euro 2012 squad and fears for his chances next season after Chelsea signed £32m Eden Hazard from Lille.

 The former Manchester City man has two years left on his contract and Chelsea will not be held to ransom over a new deal, meaning they could be willing to sell the versatile attacker this summer.

 Sturridge currently earns £65,000-a-week, which is well within Liverpool’s budget, and he fits the profile the Reds are looking for as a young, talented player who will increase in value and improve.

 New Spurs head coach Andre Villas-Boas is also a fan of Sturridge after they worked together briefly at Chelsea last season - but the City academy product grew frustrated with the wide role he was assigned under the Portuguese.

 Sturridge scored 11 Premier League goals last season playing mainly from a position on the right wing but would prefer to play as a central striker.

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Tottenham to Appoint Villas-Boas Before Launching Bids for Chelsea and FC Porto Stars

Andre Villas-Boas will make signing Porto star Joao Moutinho his No.1 target if he takes charge of Tottenham as expected next week. 

Villas-Boas is set to be confirmed as the new manager at Spurs, who sacked Harry Redknapp earlier this month. 

The 34-year-old has spoken with chairman Daniel Levy over his plans and ideas for the club as part of the interview process and knows that he will probably have to find a replacement for Luka Modric. Villas-Boas is believed to already have a replacement in mind and wants to be reunited with Moutinho. 

The former Chelsea coach signed Moutinho from Sporting Lisbon when he was Porto coach in 2010 and he played a key role in winning the Portuguese League and Cup, as well as the Europa League that season. 

Villas-Boas wanted to buy the Portugal international after he took charge of Chelsea last summer, but Porto refused to sell. 

It will still be difficult for Tottenham to prise Moutinho, who impressed for Portugal during their run to the semi-finals at Euro 2012, away as he has three years left on his contract. 

The 25-year-old also has a £35m buy-out clause, although Spurs will obviously be able to fund such a transfer should they receive a large fee for Modric. 

Villas-Boas will also consider making a move for Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge with the forward’s future at Stamford Bridge already uncertain, even before the potential arrival of Hulk.

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