Having taken Liverpool close to a Champions League title, Jurgen Klopp is now desperate to help the club take a step further next season. He has a decent squad at his disposal but the German tactician has been scouting for players who can improve the quality and depth in the squad and one such player they are interested in is Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Swiss international got relegated with Stoke City last season and is available for just around £12m. Liverpool were the frontrunners for his signature before the start of the World Cup in Russia but it has now emerged that Southampton are willing to meet his valuation this summer.
The regular game time Shaqiri will get at St Mary’s may help the Saints land him, and if they do so, how can Liverpool replace him? Here are three similar players the Reds should now target if Shaqiri agrees to join Southampton.
Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund):
The German attacker is one of the most gifted players in the country but his injury history has seen him lose a lot of his credibility. He is versatile and can play in any of the attacking roles and at just 26, is yet to hit his peak. His best years as a footballer came under Klopp in their time in Germany and Liverpool have continuously been linked with a move for him recently. His experience and quality will be a superb addition to the squad at Anfield.
Gelson Martins (Free Agent):
The Portuguese international is one of the many players who have decided to terminate their contract with Liga NOS giants Sporting CP this summer. The altercations with their fans after the end of the previous campaign mean that Martins and six of his teammates are now free agents. Martins is attracting interest from a whole host of clubs around Europe, with Liverpool interested in acquiring him as well. Like Gotze and Shaqiri, he is versatile and will be a decent coup for the Reds.
Heung Min-Son (Tottenham Hotspur):
Another attacker Liverpool can look forward to, who can be a decent replacement for Shaqiri is Heung Min-Son. The Korean international helped his nation knock Germany out of the World Cup in Russia last month and also enjoyed his most profitable campaign last time around with Spurs. It will be a challenge for them to land the attacker as he is one of the mainstays of Mauricio Pochettino’s team but his quality is undeniable and his previous experience in the league makes him a smart fit for Klopp’s squad.
