Liverpool are poised to offload Xherdan Shaqiri in this summer’s transfer window with the winger revealing that he was keen on calling it quits on Merseyside as he seeks a new challenge in his career.
Shaqiri has been heavily linked with a move away from Anfield ahead of the start of the new campaign with the Swiss international falling down the pecking order at Liverpool over the last couple of years.
After his influential showings at this summer’s mega-event UEFA European Championships with the Switzerland national side, Serie A heavyweights Lazio under their new boss Maurizio Sarri have been backed to be leading the race to sign the 28-year-old.
With just a year remaining on his current deal with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Shaqiri has admitted that the Merseyside outfit will not stand in his way to secure a move elsewhere this summer with the player adding that he was keen on gaining regular minutes on the football pitch.
Lazio’s sporting director Igli Tare was praised in the interview with Corriere dello Sport by the Liverpool man who is believed to be a key target for the Italian side in the transfer window currently in full swing adding to speculation that Shaqiri was close to joining Lazio.
‘Igli Tare has been doing an excellent job at Lazio for years.’
‘If it’s true that he has great respect for me, then I’m honoured. I have been following Lazio for a long time, they are a top team.
‘In general, due to my characteristics, I like to play more attacking football and Sarri practices it. It would be intriguing.’
‘Fortunately, football has helped me achieve many of my dreams, I was lucky enough to play with great teams and to win many titles.
‘Who knows, maybe I could get something even with the Swiss national team.
‘My contract [with] Liverpool expires in 2022, in 2018 I signed a four-year deal.
‘The important thing at this moment in my career is to be able to play regularly, but that hasn’t always been the case in the last three seasons.
‘This is why I told Liverpool that I feel ready for a new challenge. They accepted my wish and will seriously consider the offers that will come. They will not stop me.’
