In a recent post on Twitter, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that AS Roma have attempted to sign Liverpool wing wizard Xherdan Shaqiri on loan in January but the Reds have declined the offer as they want to keep him for the remainder of this campaign. Romano’s tweet read,
“AS Roma today asked for Xherdan Shaqiri on loan as Zaniolo replacement (he’s now injured). Liverpool refused to loan him out on January. No chance. ? #LFC #Shaqiri”
This latest development shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone as the Merseyside club are currently challenging for multiple trophies, so it is only logical for Jurgen Klopp to keep all of his squad players together at least until the end of this campaign.
Shaqiri’s Fruitful Spell At Liverpool So Far
Even though Shaqiri has found game time hard to come by at Anfield since his big move from Stoke City in the summer of 2018, he has still managed to lift three trophies with the Reds last year. The Swiss international has accepted his role as a squad player, but he will likely move on in search of more playing time if his current situation doesn’t change soon.
The arrival of Takumi Minamino earlier this month has also added more competition for places which means that Shaqiri might find himself further down the Anfield pecking order over the next few months. He has made ten appearances for Liverpool this term and has scored one goal across all competitions.
What Are The Swiss Sensation’s Best Attributes?
Shaqiri boasts electric pace and can be a hard man to catch when left isolated in a 1v1 footrace with the opposition. He excels at dribbling with the ball and can interchange some neat passes with his teammates in the final third. The 80-time Swiss international can also contribute by scoring or creating some decisive goals even when he has to come on as a late-game substitute.
Did Klopp Make The Right Call By Declining Roma’s Loan Offer For Shaqiri?
There is no doubt that Klopp has made the correct call by retaining Shaqiri’s services for the time being. As long as the ex-Basel speedster can stay healthy and avoid injuries, he can expect another successful six months with the Merseyside giants as they look to continue their relentless push towards the Premier League title.
