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Switzerland’s midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring his team’s third goal as Turkey’s defender Caglar Soyuncu (R) reacts during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A football match between Switzerland and Turkey at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on June 20, 2021. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: Xherdan Shaqiri of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on February 03, 2021 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 Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Ligue 1 side Lyon are interested in Liverpool fringe player Xherdan Shaqiri.
According to L’Equipe, the 29-year-old Swiss international winger may be on his way to Lyon. Early reports say that Liverpool is looking for £12.75 million in return Shaqiri.
“The Alpine Messi” is under contract until 2023 but given his lack of recent playing time under Jurgen Klopp, it appears the club is ready to move on. Shaqiri himself has said he is “ready for a new challenge” so perhaps this summer is the right time for a change of scenery.
The two-time Champions League winner has had an up and down tenure at Liverpool.
He arrived in Merseyside in 2018 and had his best season in a Liverpool jersey — scoring six goals and assisting five times in 30 total appearances during the 2018/19 season. He would then go on to score only two goals and assist four times in the following two seasons. However, he made only 32 appearances in that span.
With the attacking squad depth Liverpool boasts, it is easy to see why a player like Shaqiri is on the outside looking in. Not only has he had to fight for playing time with world-class players such as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but LFC has brought in attacking players Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota since the Swiss’ arrival.
Despite his lack of involvement at Liverpool, he was able to prove himself worthy of playing time once again this summer during Euro 2020 where he scored three goals and was often looked to as the catalyst for all of Switzerland’s attacks.
Lyon sees Shaqiri as a viable attacking threat as they look to improve on their already consistently potent offense. Surprisingly, Lyon has scored the second-most goals in Ligue 1 the last three full seasons — PSG had scored the most.
However, the Liverpool Echo believes that Lyon and Liverpool are a ways off from completing the deal because LFC want to ensure they can recover the full £12m they paid Southampton to bring Shaqiri to Anfield.
Shaqiri and his agents have already held talks with Sevilla, Lazio, Napoli and Villarreal. If the winger doesn’t end up in Lyon, one of those clubs could easily be his landing spot as it looks like a move away from Liverpool is imminent.
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