Liverpool interested in Xherdan Shaqiri after Stoke’s relegation

Liverpool are among the Premier League clubs interested in signing Xherdan Shaqiri following Stoke City’s relegation.

The Switzerland international has a release clause in his contract – understood to be set at around £12m-£13.5m – that can be activated after the club lost its Premier League status. Shaqiri has made clear he has no interest in playing in the Championship would “love to stay in England” having arrived from Internazionale for £12m in 2015.

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Shaqiri’s availability and affordability has alerted a host of clubs in Europe and the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, managed by Mark Hughes, who signed the winger for Stoke, among those linked with the 26-year-old.

Liverpool also have an interest in the former Bayern Munich player, with Jürgen Klopp looking to strengthen in key areas, although that has not advanced to activating Shaqiri’s release clause.

Liverpool were close to signing Shaqiri from Bayern in the summer of 2014 and were the player’s preferred option at the time. The winger, however, later claimed Bayern blocked his transfer to Anfield and, with his playing time at the Allianz Arena limited under Pep Guardiola, he joined Internazionale six months later.

Klopp has added the Monaco midfielder Fabinho to his squad this summer for £43.7m and wants the highly rated Lyon captain Nabil Fekir, ideally before the World Cup.