Liverpool are interested in beating bitter rivals Everton to the signing of Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri, according to the Daily Star. 

What’s the story, then?

The Star report that Jurgen Klopp wants to recruit backups for his mercurial front three and is eyeing a cut-price £12m move for the Swiss international, 26, from the recently-relegated Potters.

They claim that Merseyside rivals Everton are one of the other Premier League clubs interested in the versatile playmaker and are more likely to be able to offer him regular gametime.

They also go on to say that both clubs will have to wait if they are to secure Shaqiri’s signature because his future will not be resolved until after this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Shaqiri doesn’t work hard enough for Klopp

Klopp is right to attempt to recruit depth, cover and variety for his attack and at £12m it is easy to see why Shaqiri appeals; yet the virtuoso playmaker does not work anywhere near hard enough to be an asset in the German’s high-octane, team-orientated pressing game.

Everton signed a host of big-money players last summer but failed to add genuine width or, in actual fact, the requisite quality to make a real indent on the top six but Shaqiri is good enough to rectify that.

He is a player worthy of a top six side and Everton’s gameplan next season could be shaped by Shaqiri’s talents; but the Swiss would struggle badly with Klopp’s intense demands.

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