Liverpool are expected to complete the signing of Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City imminently.
The Swiss international is leaving Stoke after 3 years at the club following their relegation to the Championship last season.
He made 84 appearances for the Potters, chipping in with 15 goals and making his name as a star player at the club. It has been heavily reported that the winger has a £13.5m relegation release clause in his contract, which has been activated by Liverpool who are said to be finalising a deal for him at Melwood on Friday.
The 26-year-old has flown back early from his holiday in order to undergo a medical with the Reds, and is set to become Jurgen Klopp’s third signing of the summer.
It’s a mixed bag of emotions from Liverpool fans, who are of course pleased with the signing of Shaqiri, but hope he is not going to be the man to fill Philippe Coutinho’s void.
Here’s some of the best reactions from Twitter over the potential deal.
Shaqiri is not an exciting signing, but it’s a needed one. There shouldn’t be any complaints. His role is to act as BACKUP to both Mané/Salah, £12m isn’t going to affect us should it not work out, experienced at both club and national level, set piece taker and still only 26.
— Dharma Bhagalia?? (@Kloppholic) July 12, 2018
Shaqiri for £13.75m is a very tidy piece of business for Liverpool. He picked up eight goals and seven assists in the worst team in the league last season and will look twice the player surround by higher quality. Versatile, experienced and somehow still only 26
— Ryan Baldi (@RyanBaldiFW) July 12, 2018
Shaqiri walks into every team in the league apart from Liverpool and we are the ones signing him. Unreal squad depth man.
— CF (@ClinicalFirmino) July 12, 2018
Downgrading from Fekir to Shaqiri is like dating Shakira and cheating on her with Gemma Colins.
— Guardiolista (@Guardiolista07) July 13, 2018
A fit and firing Xherdan Shaqiri will test the structural integrity of Premier League defenses, European defenses, and New Balance’s semi-fitted kits pic.twitter.com/Ear52C7xu5
— Alex Mansfield (@el_mansfield) July 13, 2018