According to Claret & Hugh, West Ham United have targeted Xherdan Shaqiri as they aim to bolster their attacking department. Metro claimed last week that the Reds are open to shipping out the Swiss international this summer following his struggles to break into the first team. The report further claims that West Ham may have to pay around £22.5 million to attain the services of Shaqiri.
Shaqiri’s struggles at Liverpool
Shaqiri joined Liverpool for just £13 million last summer. And the ex-Bayern prodigy kickstarted his career at Anfield on a positive note, being involved in eight goals during the first half of the campaign. But, the return of form of players like Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita minimised Shaqiri’s chances in the first-team.
The 27-year-old was involved in only 81 minutes of league football since the turn of the year. He also mustered a little over 1,000 minutes of football throughout the entirety of the campaign, despite showing tremendous determination.
Hence, a move away from Anfield would be the most logical option for Xhaqiri as he looks to revive his career next season.
What can Shaqiri bring to the table?
Shaqiri is labelled as a dynamic forward, who likes to take on defenders and hover in and around the final third. Although he isn’t proficient in beating defenders, his physicality allows him to hold onto the play and ride the pressure very well. As a result, he can easily carry the ball in dangerous areas of the pitch and create chances for his team. He notably averaged an impressive 1.7 key passes per 90 minutes during the 2018/19 campaign.
Another key feature in Shaqiri’s overall game is his versatility. Primarily a right winger, the Swiss international can feature as an attacking midfielder as well as a centre-forward if necessary. He is also quite experienced in the highest level of football, having made 150 combined league appearances during his time in Germany and England.
Should West Ham make a move for Shaqiri?
Shaqiri will be a welcome addition to West Ham because of their lack of reliable attacking options up front. Both Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez have failed to provide a genuine threat in attack. As for Marko Arnautovic, his long-term future at the club remains uncertain.
Also, the likes of Samir Nasri, Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko have all struggled with injuries during the 2018/19 campaign. Shaqiri, in that regard, will offer Manuel Pellegrini with additional options in attack. His versatility also means that the Chilean mastermind will find it easier to accomodate him in his attacking setup, thus making him an ideal signing for the Hammers.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
