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Why Xherdan Shaqiri’s move to Liverpool is the most predictable transfer of the summer

The Switzerland winger has been a long-term target at Anfield

We should have seen it coming.

Xherdan Shaqiri was announced as Liverpool’s latest summer signing in a deal believed to be worth £13million.

The move is a relative steal for Jurgen Klopp’s side considering the transfer fee it took to sign the 26-year-old from Stoke City.


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Having starred for Switzerland at the World Cup, Shaqiri was on the radar of many of Europe’s elite clubs.

It turns out however, that he has been a Liverpool target for a lot longer than you would expect.

Brendan Rodgers actually wanted to sign Shaqiri from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2014.

He failed to get consistent game time in Germany

Bongarts - Getty
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He failed to get consistent game time in Germany

The diminutive winger even admitted that he had taken calls from Rodgers over a move, but Bayern blocked any transfer from happening.

“I wanted to leave that summer (2014) and had offers from Liverpool and Atletico (Madrid),” Shaqiri told Spox in 2016.

“Brendan Rodgers called me several times before the World Cup. But Bayern forbid me to leave.”

Shaqiri stayed with the German club until January 2015 before joining Inter Milan.

The move to Italy failed to produce Shaqiri’s best form

Getty - Contributor
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The move to Italy failed to produce Shaqiri’s best form

He then eventually got his move to the Premier League with Stoke in August 2015.

Shaqiri was signed by Mark Hughes for £12million where he was often the standout player in a lacklustre team.


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Liverpool’s impressive-looking squad continues to get stronger with the addition of Shaqiri.

They are still short in one key area however.

I think we all know what this is…

“Mate, why are you still here?”

PA:Press Association
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“Mate, why are you still here?”

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