In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has tipped Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri to join another Premier League club this summer in search of more playing opportunities. Robinson said,
“He’s a good player and he proved that he can do it at the lower end of the league when he was at Stoke.
“He’s not afraid to play football a different way and he’s not afraid of the battles that playing for one of those sides brings.
“He showed his talent in a struggling Stoke team and was able to generate that move to Liverpool.
“He’d be a good addition to any of the clubs at the lower end of the Premier League and possibly some of the teams who will come up next season.”
Shaqiri’s Bit Part Role At Anfield This Season
Shaqiri has played a sporadic role in Jurgen Klopp’s match-day squad this season but has still managed to put in some eye-catching displays for the Liverpool first-team. The Swiss wing wizard has scored once and provided four assists in 21 matches for the Reds this term across all fronts.
Most of the ex-FC Basel youngster’s appearances in the Premier League have come as a substitute which explains why he is averaging 0.8 shots, 1.3 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in league football. The 29-year-old has been an excellent ball distributor after completing 86.7% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Should The Reds Cash In On Shaqiri This Summer?
Shaqiri is still under contract at Anfield until the summer of 2023, so the Reds are in no immediate need to sell him during the summer transfer period. However, the lack of game time has hampered his career which is why the Swiss international needs to seek a move away from Merseyside in search of more game time in the coming seasons.
The former Stoke City wide player can still be an excellent dribbler with the ball as he has got outstanding balance and close control that allows him to get past his marker in the final third. He can strike the ball with a lot of power and precision that also makes him a specialist for dead-ball situations.
Klopp has often used Shaqiri off the bench this season because of his ability to be a real game-changer in the attacking end of the field. Hence, the Reds should consider keeping him for at least another season if they are serious about challenging for the Premier League title next year.
The Merseyside outfit does not have the luxury to lose any more depth after a tough and injury-ravaged season in English football. All in all, Klopp would be wise to find a way to convince Shaqiri to stay as he can still be an effective squad player for the Reds over the next 18 months.
