Xherdan Shaqiri would jump at the chance to join Liverpool four years on.
Xherdan Shaqiri has made no secret of his desire to leave Stoke City this summer.
Fortunately for him, Champions League runners-up Liverpool are reported to be showing interest in the Swiss international.
The Guardian report Liverpool are considering paying Shaqiri’s £12.5 million release clause.
For Shaqiri, landing a move to Anfield would be overdue, after nearly signing for the club in 2014.
While at Bayern Munich, Shaqiri came close to signing for Liverpool, only to be denied the move by then manager Pep Guardiola.
Speaking to spox.com two years later, Shaqiri explained how close he came to a move to Liverpool.
He said: “That was my wish. I had offers from Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. Iopted for Liverpool. [Then-manager] Brendan Rodgers contacted me a few times during the World Cup. But Bayern blocked my move.
“There were several talks and it got loud a few times. Those responsible at Bayern believed my situation would change, it didn’t, and we were right.”
Shaqiri ended up at Stoke but now has an opportunity to leave following their relegation to the Championship.
At Liverpool he would have to go back to being a squad player like he was at Bayern, but after struggling at the wrong end of the table with Stoke, this is a sacrifice he may happily make.
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