According to reports in German publication Bild today, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp met with agent Andy Goss in December to discuss a potential deal for his client, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Previously, Bild reported that the German side had slapped a €50m price-tag on Xhaka’s head. However, the most recent story claims that from 2017 a €30m release clause in Xhaka’s contract is activated – meaning they could do business for something in between come the end of this season.
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Bild claim the Swiss international is ‘top of the wish-list’, and that he’s the ‘aggressive leader’ Liverpool currently lack in middle.
They also state that we’ll have to fight many top clubs for his services, but that should be the case with any player of calibre.
The 23-year-old has scored three goals this term, but most importantly – controls the game with his passing centrally. According to WhoScored, Lucas is Liverpool’s most prominent passer, averaging 57.7 per game, whereas his younger counterpart averages 73.2 per game.
Xhaka’s a physical presence and contributes defensively, but also dictates tempo and helps his teams dominate possession.
With Emre Can still very much in a development stage, Xhaka could be the long-term solution to the anchorman position.