Why Liverpool should keep hold of Xherdan Shaqiri amidst interest
According to Liverpool Echo, winger Xherdan Shaqiri could leave the club in the summer after attracting interest from several clubs last January.
Shaqiri, 28, came through the ranks of FC Basel’s youth system and featured for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan before moving to England with Stoke City in 2015. He established himself with the Potters and displayed some impressive performances that earned him a move to Liverpool in 2018.
Despite struggling to break into Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI, he was given his fair share of games. He is a very good winger but his progress has been hampered by several injuries and has fallen down the pecking order at Liverpool.
Meanwhile, the Reds have done a significant job in the title chase and are atop the league table with 25 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. The front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have led the line brilliantly.
However, one aspect which the manager should focus on is the depth. Takumi Minamino was signed in January to bolster the attacking unit but the Japanese international has found it difficult to settle within the team.
Apart from him, Divock Origi and Shaqiri are the only natural attackers available at the manager’s disposal. In that case, letting the Swiss international could be costly for the club in the future. Salah has also had his own problems with injury this term. Therefore, keeping Shaqiri as a backup on the right wing would be a good choice.
The 28-year-old has experience playing in the Premier League and has also featured in 80 games for Switzerland, leading his team to the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League. He is capable of being a better backup for the Reds and can do a decent job in the absence of the talismanic Egyptian.
The £80k-a-week star has proved to be a crucial player on several occasions for the Reds by coming on as a substitute. Last season, he provided the assist for Daniel Sturridge in the dying minutes of the game against Chelsea that earned them a draw. He was also crucial against Manchester United in December 2018, where he scored 2 goals off the bench in the 20 minutes he played.
The former Bayern Munich man is a very talented winger and can be helpful to the squad if he replicates his form from last season. And his experience would be crucial in reviving his career at Anfield.
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Verdict
Liverpool have failed to bring in adequate forwards in the last two transfer windows due to the presence of the big names. And it could prove to be fatal for Liverpool without a proper backup if any of the attackers face a long-term injury.
Therefore, keeping hold of Shaqiri would be a wise decision for the club and they should be able to get the best out of him at least until his contract expires with the club.
