Sturridge has been peripheral at Chelsea even while Fernando Torres has been struggling and Liverpool believe that the England forward can be secured for £12m.

Sturridge has been Rodgers’ prime transfer target since the failure to replace Andy Carroll during the summer and talks are understood to be at an advanced stage between the sides. Sturridge, a former trainee at Manchester City, has scored 24 goals in 96 appearances for Chelsea but has been mostly played out wide on the right flank.

His form has been good enough to earn four England caps and he also played up front for the Great Britain Olympic team in the summer although he has been restricted by a hamstring injury this season.

An additional £6m deal is also being lined up for Ince, a winger who was sold by Liverpool last year but has since flourished at Blackpool.

Liverpool are entitled to a 35 per cent cut of any transfer fee as part of the deal that took him to Bloomfield Road, which means their overall outlay will be reduced. Ince, who is the son of former England captain Paul, has scored 13 Championship goals this season and established himself in the England Under-21 team.