Tribunal to rule on transfer fee for Sturridge’s move to Chelsea

MANCHESTER CITY’S talented teenager Daniel Sturridge is to join Chelsea this summer but the exact fee will be decided by a tribunal.

The two clubs have failed to reach an agreement on a suitable compensation package but as the player is under 24, he is not available to sign on a Bosman-style free transfer.

The 19-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the summer and City are looking to get a ‘development fee’ of around £10 million (€11.6m) from Chelsea.

Chelsea’s valuation of the teenager is thought to be somewhat lower at an estimated £3m (€3.5m).

City rejected Chelsea’s initial package and it is now likely that a settlement of around £5m (€5.8m) will be agreed which will include a number of add-on clauses related to performance and appearances.

Sturridge is one of the game’s top prospects and highly rated by City boss Mark Hughes.

But the player is understood to have staggered City by demanding a contract worth a reported £55,000 (€64,000)-a-week.

Also on the move is Joe Hart who is set to join Birmingham on loan following confirmation Stuart Taylor will be Shay Given’s deputy at Manchester City next season.

Blues boss Mark Hughes was keen to let Hart – currently on duty with the England Under-21 squad in Sweden – further his education away from Eastlands, knowing his chances at City would be limited.

And confirmation of Taylor’s arrival, following a glowing tribute to Hughes from Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel, leaves Hart free to join up with Alex McLeish at St Andrews.

It should assist Hart’s chances of making next summer’s World Cup, while at the same time offering Taylor a chance to see if Hughes, and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock, live up to their impressive billing after Friedel worked with the duo at Blackburn. “I talked to Brad for some advice and he couldn’t speak highly enough,” Taylor said. “I can’t wait to start. This is a fantastic club to be joining, a club that is going places.”

The 28-year-old is City’s third signing of the summer and follows in the footsteps of Gareth Barry, who could be installed as Blues captain if Sunderland pursue their apparent interest in Richard Dunne.

With Hughes still to strengthen his defence, it is unlikely he would allow Dunne to leave just yet.

However, if the quality he has brought in this summer is anything to go by, Hughes may eventually view the Republic of Ireland defender as a disposable asset in the quest for honours.

The Welshman has already suggested the lack of European action for City next season could work to their benefit. Yet he concedes if Roque Santa Cruz had arrived last season, the Blues might well have been in the new Europa League. Hughes said: “If we could have had him in the side at the beginning of last season, his presence in certain games, against certain opponents, would very possibly have made a difference to the results that we had.”