Liverpool supporters in the Transfer Tavern are just about getting over their side’s crushing Champions League final defeat at the hands of Real Madrid last month, what with the Reds going down 3-1 to the Spanish giants.
Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their encounter with the two-times defending champions full of confidence after beating Porto, Manchester City, and Roma in the knockout stages en route to the Kiev showpiece, but they were second-best in the Ukrainian capital on May 26. A brace from Gareth Bale alongside Karim Benzema’s opener sealed victory for Real, in turn clinching their third consecutive Champions League crown, and 13th in their illustrious history.
Subsequently, there have been many disappointed and deflated Liverpudlians in the Tavern in recent times, several of whom are likely to be interested by recent reports linking their side with a move for Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri.
And while he was part of a Potters side that were relegated from the Premier League this term, there is little doubting that adding the 26-year-old ace would give the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane something to think about next term.
Ultimately, the Reds wide men enjoyed wonderful campaigns again this time round in netting 64 goals and laying on 25 assists between them, without doubt playing a huge part in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final, and indeed their fourth place finish in the Premier League.
And while summer signing Salah was magnificent for the vast majority of the campaign, Senegal international Mane did endure a testing spell in the side between September and the New Year, with the forward managing just one league goal in that time.
However, Klopp hasn’t had the luxury of calling upon players of good enough standard to replace and put pressure on the duo to perform week in week out, with the forward options at Anfield very much limited beyond the lethal front three of messrs Mane, Salah, and Roberto Firmino.
Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke are the main men outside of the aforementioned trio but both are more out-and-out forwards than wide men, whereas Shaqiri’s arrival would indeed give Mane and Salah something to think about next time round.
The 26-year-old may not have been able to inspire Stoke to safety this term, but he produced his best season for the club in netting eight goals and laying on seven assists for the Potters, with it arguable that they would have been relegated a lot sooner were it not for his contributions.
Yes, he isn’t as consistent in terms of producing the goods as Salah and Mane based on the last few years, but there is no doubt that the Switzerland international has the match-winning ability synonymous with the Liverpool duo.
And having that competition in the squad can only be a good thing for the likes of Mane and Salah, as any dip in form next season would see their starting spots come under threat, while having the option of Shaqiri may also give Klopp more opportunities to manage the duo’s workload, given they appeared 96 times between them this term, and look set to play a part at this summer’s World Cup.
Thus, while it might not be the most ambitious of signings if they get it done, the addition of Shaqiri would be a useful one in giving Mane and Salah something to think about next time round.
Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!
