Why Shaqiri move would be good for Reds
Stoke City attacker Xherdan Shaqiri has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool and the club should make sure this happens.
The Guardian have reported that the Swiss international is available for a ridiculous knock-down price of £13 million, due to the Potters being relegated from the Premier League.
According to the report, Shaqiri’s pedigree and his value means that there are a bunch of clubs interested in the former Bayern Munich star.
Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp should make sure that he moves for the 26-year-old, who would strengthen key areas of the squad and would provide a glitter of pace and star dust.
More from Rush The Kop
- Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
- Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
- Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
- Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
- Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Shaqiri is talented on the ball, can dribble, is a fine athlete and had a penchant for doing something out of the ordinary. He would provide fine back-up to Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah and could provide a tutorship role to the younger members of the side.
Crucially, unlike other targets, he is an experienced Premier League and continental campaigner and has bags of international caps under his belt. Put bluntly, players this good, with this much domestic experience, do not come this cheap. Klopp should throw his hat on it.
Known for getting the best out of his squad, just ask Andrew Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Klopp could also bring the best out of Shaqiri – who has been languishing with a struggling side for too long.
Eight goals and seven assists in a relegation season are excellent stats though, and Liverpool have bought players from sides who’ve dropped down before. Just look at Gini Wijnaldum from Newcastle United.
Next: All Rafa Benitez 45 signings for Liverpool ranked!
Whether or not Shaqiri would be happy within a squad rotation role is another thing – although the Guardian did say that Liverpool were his preferred option when the attacker was still playing for Munich. Champions League football and working under Klopp may be too tasty to resist, though.