Rush The Kop
Fansided

Shaqiri to Liverpool means end of Anfield career for 24-year-old attacker

By David Gate

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 03: Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland takes a corner kick during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 03: Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland takes a corner kick during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Liverpool look poised to seal a transfer move for Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City. His arrival will mean the final nail in the coffin for one dispensable attacker.

Liverpool are set to complete a deal for Stoke City playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri as the two clubs have entered into negotiations for the transfer. The player is thought to be keen on a move to Anfield and has a reported £13.5 million release fee following Stoke’s relegation from the Premier League.

Adding another attacker to the books will only speed the exit of 24-year-old winger Lazar Markovic from the club. He is now viewed as entirely dispensable for Jurgen Klopp. Using him would only take away minutes from more promising youngsters.

More from Rush The Kop

Once again Lazar Markovic finds himself at the bottom of the pile. Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo, Ben Woodburn and Ryan Kent are all ahead of him this pre-season. That pile will only be more squashed by the addition of Shaqiri.

The Reds have held out over the last few summers from selling him too cheaply. But now it appears the club would rather have him off the books and will let him go if he finda a club he wants to move to.

Receiving any transfer fee towards the £20 million Liverpool shelled out to Benfica for him in 2014 seems very unlikely. His four loan spells (Fenerbahce; Sporting Lisbon; Hull City; Anderlecht) resulted in just 53 appearances and 5 goals. He is clearly not at the high standard Klopp expects for players in either character or production.

Next: Every player fighting for his Liverpool future

Most Liverpool fans are pleased at the prospect of Shaqiri joining the club but are hoping that is not the only attacking signing the club make in this window. The news that Liverpool may resurrect a deal for Nabil Fekir is the kind of exciting move most fans are hungry for.