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. . . PUNTERS tried to place bets of up to £5 000 on Daniel Sturridge joining West Brom, SunSport has learned.
According to reports, the Liverpool striker, 29, was a massive 66-1 with Paddy Power to make the switch.
But that was slashed to just 5-2 less than 24 hours before his move from Anfield to the Baggies on January 29.
The England star faces two FA charges — one breach of the laws in relation to betting on football and another charge which covers information “obtained by virtue of his position” and “not publicly available”.
SunSport has been told by betting sources that bookies became highly suspicious when they received phone calls asking for a price on Sturridge going to the Midlands outfit.
Fifteen days before the former Chelsea star signed for Albion, the then Premier League club were not even quoted in the betting list.
Merseyside rivals Everton and Turkish side Besiktas were 33-1, Newcastle and Inter Milan 16s, West Ham 3-1 and Southampton were 5-2 favourites.
It is understood one punter even dropped his attempted £5 000 bet down to just £30 when a bookmaker insisted that was all they were prepared to accept.
A bookie told us: “We get suspicious about specialist bets like this when punters want to bet £20, let alone £5 000.”
Sturridge has been given until 6pm on November 20 to respond to the charges, which relate to the period of January 2018.
Liverpool released a statement on Monday and Sturridge categorically denies the charges. – The Sun
Bongani Ndlovu