LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Xherdan Shaqiri of Liverpool in action during the UEFA Champions League Group D stage match between Liverpool FC and FC Midtjylland at Anfield on October 27, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
According to The Daily Express (h/t Mirror), Xherdan Shaqiri has been linked with an exit from Liverpool. With funds seemingly low, players need to be sold to make any January signings. Given the number of injuries Klopp is having to deal with, January arrivals could be a necessity.
The 29-year-old Swiss forward started his youth career at SV Augst is 1995 but moved to FC Basel’s academy in 2001. In the next few seasons, he progressed through the youth sides before being promoted to the first-team in 2009.
He went on to make 130 appearances for the Swiss side, scoring 23 goals and assisting 27. Bayern Munich took notice of his exploits and signed him in 2012. He won the treble with Bayern that season but played a bit-part role in it.
Inter Milan signed him on loan in 2015 and made his loan deal permanent after 6 months. However, he was immediately loaned out to Stoke City, thereby making just 20 appearances for Inter.
He played a much more prominent role at Stoke but could not stop the club from getting relegated in 2018. In 92 appearances for the club, he scored and assisted 15 goals each (source – Transfermarkt).
Before Shaqiri could think of playing in the Championship, Liverpool added him to their ranks. He played an important part en route to their Champions League triumph in 2019. Since then, the £80k-a-week star has struggled with injuries and less game time. Shaqiri has been a central part of the Swiss national team for over a decade now, with 82 caps and 22 goals to his name.
Once seen as an astute signing by Klopp to provide cover for his prolific front three, Shaqiri has fallen from grace in recent times. Plagued with injuries, he had been out of the squad for most of last season.
Liverpool have added Diogo Jota to their ranks, while Takumi Minamino looks like a promising player. Both players are very versatile and can play across the frontline. That ensures Liverpool are well stocked in the attack for the season.
Shaqiri has been a faithful servant at whichever club he’s been. But at Liverpool, he has found chances hard to come by because of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. At 29, he is in his prime years as a forward and should be a regular at a club.
The best thing the club could do now is to allow him to leave. The player would get a fresh start and Liverpool would also get some cash to spend in the January transfer window.
