Xherdan Shaqiri is seemingly not being viewed as a potential backup to Nabil Fekir following the collapse of the Frenchman’s move to Liverpool.
The Reds reportedly withdrew from negotiations for the Lyon captain after failing to restructure the agreed £53million deal in light of concerns raised in his medical over a long-term knee injury he sustained in 2015.
Fekir himself had agreed personal terms over a move and evidently took part in an interview with LFCTV ahead of his expected unveiling.
With the deal having subsequently broken down, Jurgen Klopp’s hunt for a Philippe Coutinho replacement will continue.
Stoke City’s Shaqiri is one man that won’t be targeted as an alternative, reports the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle.
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Interest in the Swiss international had been perceived positively by Liverpool fans, on the condition that he wouldn’t arrive as the only attacking reinforcement this summer.
Any pursuit of the 26-year-old will stem from Liverpool’s desire to add greater strength in depth in the wider positions, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the only orthodox backup to the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Besides possessing invaluable Premier League experience, Shaqiri also offers the versatility required in Klopp’s interchanging system.
His return of eight goals and seven assists in a miserable league campaign for Stoke also reflects his ability to maintain Liverpool’s threat across the entire frontline.