Rodgers hopes to sign two Switzerland stars.Liverpool are making progress in their efforts to sign both Xherdan Shaqiri and Ricardo Rodriguez in an exciting £33m deal after their impressive performances for Switzerland at this summer’s World Cup.
Recent reports suggest that Shaqiri has been a top target for the Reds for some time, and CaughtOffside now understands that manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring in his international team-mate Rodriguez as well in what looks like a good piece of business.
With Shaqiri currently unsettled at Bayern Munich after struggling to become a regular since joining from FC Basel in 2012, the player has been keen to hold talks over a proposed move to Anfield, with a fee of £15m seemingly now agreed between the two clubs.
Although Bayern had hoped to keep the 22-year-old around for at least another season to see if he could fulfill his tremendous potential at the Allianz Arena, they have decided to accept Liverpool’s offer, which represents a good fee for someone who had essentially become a backup player in a position in which manager Pep Guardiola has plenty of other options.
Shaqiri celebrated a hat-trick for his country in last night’s 3-0 win over Honduras in World Cup Group E, and he could now get his career back on track at club level after stalling slightly during his time in the Bundesliga.
His style of play should fit in well in Rodgers’ attacking system deployed at Liverpool, and he will be helped to settle by the addition of his international colleague Rodriguez as well, who is expected to join in an £18m deal from another Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
The 21-year-old was one of the most impressive young defenders in Europe in 2013/14, contributing five goals and nine assists from the back, and his fine form for Switzerland in Brazil this summer has persuaded Rodgers to go all out to sign him ahead of other left-back targets this summer.
A full-back on that side of the pitch had been a top target for the Merseyside giants after Aly Cissokho failed to impress in his loan spell from Valencia this term, leading to the likes of Sevilla youngster Alberto Moreno being linked with moves to the club.
Lining up together in what will be an exciting, new-look left-hand side, Rodriguez and Shaqiri will surely prove excellent long-term acquisitions for Liverpool, who are ready to spend big in advance as they prepare for the likely departure of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
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