Xherdan Shaqiri is close to moving to Lyon and this has led to Liverpool fans speculating that the club has an incoming transfer in the pipeline.
Gianluca Di Marzio broke the news on Wednesday night that Shaqiri is ‘very close’ to a move to Lyon as talks between Liverpool and the Ligue 1 side continue.
Fabrizio Romano then relayed news from French daily newspaper L’Equipe that the attacker has reached an agreement on personal terms with Lyon.
With Shaqiri, one of the players in Liverpool’s squad that occupies a non-homegrown slot, fans believe as soon as he leaves, the club could sign a new player.
Xherdan Shaqiri has completed his agreement on personal terms with OL. Contract now ready until June 2024 – Shaqiri’s now pushing to join Ligue1 side, as @lequipe reporter. 🔴🇫🇷 #LFC
OL are offering €6m with add-ons, Liverpool want more. No agreement yet. Talks ongoing.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2021
The logic behind this is that Liverpool cannot sign any players not born in the UK (commonly referred to as homegrown) that are above the age of 21.
But if Shaqiri, a Swiss national born in Gjilan, Kosovo, leaves the club soon, Liverpool could theoretically make a new signing, with the likes of Saul and Renato Sanches heavily linked recently.
The price we're rumoured to be selling Shaq for is quite low. We must be pretty desperate for squad space
— Buck (@LogicalFan) August 11, 2021
Confused why the Klopp quotes have blown up. Liverpool already have too many players, particularly non-homegrown. Leaving Shaqiri etc out the squad on £80,000 a week makes little sense. Always been the case of shifting players before anyone comes in.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) August 11, 2021
€8M seems paltry for Xherdan Shaqiri but he's barely played in two seasons due to recurring injuries.
Overall, an astute signing who provided huge moments; second half versus Barcelona and the brace against United.
A really good player.
— John O'Sullivan (@NotoriousJOS) August 11, 2021
Some Liverpool fans : “Just get rid of non-HG players so we can sign someone new.”
Same Liverpool fans : “WTF? Why are we selling Shaqiri so cheap?? Michael Edwards is a fraud and this club is in the mud SMH massive L followback idolo top reds sign Mbappe.” https://t.co/S3zIQjWKPH
— Biggies Malls 2.0 (@Biggies_MaIIs) August 11, 2021
Some Liverpool fans : “Just get rid of non-HG players so we can sign someone new.”
Same Liverpool fans : “WTF? Why are we selling Shaqiri so cheap?? Michael Edwards is a fraud and this club is in the mud SMH massive L followback idolo top reds sign Mbappe.” https://t.co/S3zIQjWKPH
— Biggies Malls 2.0 (@Biggies_MaIIs) August 11, 2021
It’s all about freeing up that non homegrown slot, as well as Shaqiri’s 80k per week wages.
We are willing to sell Shaqiri for a few more million – (£6.5m-10m).
Looking more likely to see an incoming if another bid comes in within this bracket.|#LFC
— 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗦 (@LFC_Lucas_) August 11, 2021
While Liverpool and Michael Edwards have normally held out for valuations much higher than other clubs would normally be able to, the Reds could be in a more desperate situation than made obvious from the outside.
Jurgen Klopp is obviously never going to tell reporters that he and his sporting director are working really hard to make new signings and are frustrated by a lack of progress.
Why? The media would have a field day. Every blog, newspaper and fansite (this one included) would be quick to react.
And worst of all, it would make Liverpool’s jobs that much harder in talks with clubs and agents – there’s a reason why football transfers are so hushed up these days.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 11: Lionel Messi poses with his jersey next to President Nasser Al Khelaifi after the press conference of Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on August 11, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi’s free-agent move to PSG was the rare exception and it’s largely to do with the fact that it was obvious where he was going and previous leaks already exposed how much he was earning with Barcelona.
Liverpool are typically a well-oiled machine when it comes to transfers and while it might seem like the Chelseas and Manchester clubs of the world are superior, it’s only that way because they have more money.
If you gave Michael Edwards and his team of scouts and data analysts the cash that is available to PSG, City and Real Madrid, I think Liverpool would run the football world. And we have Klopp.
Hopefully, we add a new player in the next few weeks and if we don’t, at least we have, van Dijk, Fabinho, Salah and several other world-beaters.
