According to The Daily Mail, Xherdan Shaqiri has said that it was his decision to stay at Liverpool when speaking before Switzerland’s recent clash with Germany.
The former Bayern Munich forward said: ‘Sure, in football there is always speculation and the players think about their situations. That is completely normal.
‘And of course, I have also thought about it, that is completely normal. But in the end I decided to stay there. The transfer window is now closed.’
Jurgen Klopp hinted that he left the Switzerland international out of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal due to transfer interest, but no exit ever materialised.
The Evening Standard quote him as saying: ‘I can’t and I don’t want to say anything about that. What I can say is he is not injured and it is not for disciplinary reasons. It is a time of the year when a manager gets some information, then I have to react on that.’
The former Borussia Dortmund boss has handed Shaqiri just one appearance so far this season, which came in the 7-2 win over Lincoln City.
Last season, the Swiss star only made seven Premier League appearances.
On this basis, Shaqiri – who Spotrac say earns £80,000-a-week at Anfield – isn’t a pivotal player for Klopp, but there’s no denying he has quality and can still offer something.
Let’s not forget it was the ex-Inter Milan attacker who started in that famous 4-0 win over Barcelona, even grabbing the assist for Gini Wijnaldum’s equaliser.
He is capable of producing quality moments like that one, and it should come as a boost to the Premier League champions that Shaqiri took it upon himself to stay.
The Gjilan-born player still has three years left on his contract with the 2019 Champions League winners, so there is no pressure on Liverpool to sell him anytime soon.
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