Liverpool are looking like a dynamic, well-oiled attacking machine this season, and this would have only been amplified by a player of the caliber of Xherdan Shaqiri in their side
The Swiss midfielder is often referred to as the ‘Messi of the Alps’ because of his movement, dexterity and dribbling ability. The 25-year-old currently plays for Stoke City, but has the talent to slot into many of Europe’s top clubs.
There was much interest in Shaqiri when he was at Bayern Munich, before Inter Milan eventually bought him, only to sell him to the Potters just six months later. The Swiss midfielder has now revealed that he had almost agreed on a move to Premier League giants Liverpool, before Bayern blocked the move.
“I was about to leave in the summer and absolutely had offers from Liverpool and Atletico Madrid,” Shaqiri said in an interview with German publication Spox.
“I opted for Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers had called me a few times before the World Cup. However that’s what Bayern forbade.”
Stoke City pulled off a coup when they signed Shaqiri from Inter in July, 2015 for £12 million. After a poor season last time around, he has managed to score three spectacular long range goals in 11 appearances for the Potters.
The 25-year-old has shown sparks of brilliance, but is yet to produce the kind of form that would set him apart as world-class. This is reflected in the fact that he’s somehow ended up going from Bayern Munich to Stoke City who, with all due respect, aren’t exactly considered one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Liverpool were reportedly very keen on signing the Swiss midfielder as far back as 2014. It now looks like Shaqiri wasn’t averse to the move himself, but his then club Bayern Munich interjected. It would be interesting to know what the Liverpool hierarchy will be thinking when they hear this.
German manager Jurgen Klopp has been working wonders at Anfield since arriving last season. He seems to have brought out the best in the likes of Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson, and it would be interesting to know what he thinks of Shaqiri, who is perhaps on the same level as the aforementioned trio were before Klopp’s arrival at Anfield.
