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Not exactly the transfer that was getting Liverpool hearts racing, but David Maddock, with the Mirror, has reported that Klopp and the transfer committee will amp up their efforts to sign Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri after Switzerland ends their World Cup run.
The deal, said to be for around £12million is one that suits all parties involved, so it seems there will be very little negotiation necessary to get this one across the line. If Klopp wants him to add depth to the midfield, Shaqiri is eager to leave Stoke after the team was relegated last season.
Good news for Liverpool fans who may not be on board with this latest transfer move is that Maddock emphasized that Shaqiri would not be the committee’s alternative for Fekir, but an additional buy to further bolster the squad. This claim would seem to be confirmed by the fact that there was interest in the Stoke City player when the Fekir deal was still very much on. That means that Liverpool are still sifting through candidates to fill Coutinho’s versatile midfield role, if indeed the Fekir transfer has been completely called off.
Switzerland, Shaqiri’s national team, are in a World Cup group with Brazil, Serbia, and Costa Rica, and may see themselves make an early exit following the group stages. Without much competition for his signature, Klopp has the luxury of waiting for Shaqiri’s summer duties to conclude before completing this deal.
The 26-year-old has an eye for goal and was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise dismal Stoke City team last season. His signing would be far from the marquee midfield acquisition that fans are thirsting for, but for the cut rate price he could prove a good bargain for gaining strength in depth. This also leaves plenty of cash if Liverpool do intend to splash some on a big name attacking midfielder and/or a world class goalkeeper.
Having this option for later in the summer also means that the committee can focus on possibly getting more time sensitive transfers completed over the next few days.