Xherdan Shaqiri reveals Liverpool transfer agreement as Swiss star names club he’d love to play for, with four teams in Italy and Spain chasing £15m-rated forward

Xherdan Shaqiri has revealed Liverpool bosses have agreed to listen to offers for him this summer, with four clubs from Italy and Spain linked with an interest.

The 29-year-old has even talked up a possible move to Lazio, saying he would be ‘honoured’ to join the Serie A club.

4

Shaqiri’s three-year stay at Anfield could be set for its conclusion, following
comments from the Swiss star regarding his Reds future.

Often seen as the ‘back up’ option to supplement service to Liverpool’s attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah, Shaqiri has seen himself on the periphery for most of his time at the Merseyside club.

He has been linked for a transfer away from Liverpool for a few months now, but his time in the Premier League could be coming to an end in the
coming days.

Lazio, Villarreal, Sevilla and Napoli are all reportedly keen on securing his services and the attacker opened up on his next move when speaking to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport.

"I told Liverpool board I feel ready for a new challenge," said the Swiss star, who helped his nation reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2020.

4

"They accepted my decision and will now consider bids to sell me. Liverpool won’t stop me this summer.

"The important thing at this moment in my career is to be able to play regularly, but that hasn’t always been the case in the last three seasons.

"I’m only 29 years old, I have played in some of the best Leagues in Europe and I would like to continue being a part of them.

"I’m not yet thinking about the end of my career, it’s a future I imagine far away. We will see what destiny has in store for me.

“I have no direct contact; my consultant team deals with the market. They inform me when there are clubs interested, you have to ask them for the names."

4

While four clubs are all within a chance of signing Shaqiri, a move to Lazio could be the likeliest option given his experience of Italian football, where he previously played for Inter Milan, and his comments about their new manager Maurizio Sarri.

“Igli Tare [the sporting director] has been doing an excellent job at Lazio for years,” Shaqiri said. “If it’s true that he has great respect for me, then I’m honoured.

“I have been following Lazio for a long time, they are a top team. In general, due to my characteristics, I like to play more attacking football and Sarri practices it.

“It would be intriguing.”

It’s said that Liverpool would command a fee of around £15million for Shaqiri.

4

Given the quality he possesses, coupled with the performances he displayed during Euro 2020, it seems a respectable price despite only having 12-months left on his contract.

It is almost a question of when rather than if Shaqiri leaves Anfield. Providing he does, it will take the club’s summer sales to around £45m following the departures of Taiwo Awoniyi, Marko Grujic and Harry Wilson for a combined total of just under £30m.

With plenty of other players’ futures under question, that total is only set to increase as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to refresh his squad ahead of the 2021/22 season.