AS Monaco are reportedly plotting a shock swoop for Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who has a €36 million price tag.
According to a report by Swiss outlet Blick, AS Monaco are looking to up the ante in the final month of the summer transfer window. The Ligue 1 outfit reportedly already have a number of moves lined up, one of which includes the pursuit of Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri, who is valued at €36 million by Liverpool.
Some speculation today about Shaqiri’s future but been told there’s zero chance of #LFC offloading him. https://t.co/vL1GVH9rDR
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 7, 2019
Shaqiri has had an interesting career till date. The Swiss winger seemed destined for big things when he joined Bayern Munich in 2012. But, he never managed to carve out a regular place for himself and after stints at a couple of other clubs, the 27-year-old made his way to Liverpool last summer in a cut-price deal, made possible by Stoke’s relegation to the Championship.
The player’s maiden campaign with Liverpool was a mixed bag, having enjoyed a strong first half of the season before dropping down the pecking order post February. Shaqiri had, in fact, featured in 21 of the first 27 Premier League games for the Reds before the resurgence of Divock Origi turned him into a bit-part player.
In the last three months of the 2018-19 season, Shaqiri made just four appearances and with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning to full fitness, there are doubts surrounding his status. As a result, a possible Liverpool exit has been mooted, with AS Monaco now emerging as a possible suitor.
The Principality club are coming off a dismal 2018-19 campaign, which saw them finish a lowly 17th in Ligue 1, narrowly staving off relegation upon the return of Leonardo Jardim. And, as they look to return to the upper echelons of French football, Monaco are in for some significant investments.
Gelson Martins has already joined on a permanent transfer after a solid loan spell, while moves for Mariano Diaz and Shkodran Mustafi are reportedly in the works. And, in a bid to bolster attack further, they seem to have turned their attention towards Liverpool, where Shaqiri has emerged as a viable target, especially with Rony Lopes a possible departure.
Monaco are also ready to bump up his wages by paying him around €6 million per year. Liverpool though, will not let Shaqiri leave on the cheap, considering he still has four years left on his deal. And, the Reds have slapped a €36 million price tag on the Swiss winger.
Jurgen Klopp though, is unwilling to see Shaqiri leave, as with the British transfer deadline mere hours away, Liverpool will have no time to sign a replacement, leaving them short changed on backup options. Therefore, as it stands, a move to AS Monaco is unlikely, although it remains to be seen if the Ligue 1 club do launch the offensive for him.
