Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates after scoring a goal during their Euro 2016 Group E qualifying soccer match against Lithuania at AFG Arena in St. Gallen November 15, 2014.
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates after scoring a goal during their Euro 2016 Group E qualifying soccer match against Lithuania at AFG Arena in St. Gallen November 15, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

Italian clubs Inter Milan and Juventus were keen to make a loan deal for unsettled Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri. Liverpool FC seems to have taken pole position by offering a permanent transfer request for the Swiss player. The German champions were looking for a permanent deal and were not too keen on a loan deal.

Shaqiri, 23, joined the German club from the Swiss club Basel after three successful seasons with the senior team with them. In Switzerland he won the domestic league in all the three seasons and the domestic cup in two of them. With the Bundesliga outfit he was won the league and the cup twice, the DFL Super Cup, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup each on one occasion. Even with so much success his place in the side is not settled. For Pep Guardiola's team he has been a fringe player at best of times. This means by moving to Liverpool all three parties should benefit.

In 130 matches for FC Basel he had scored 23 times. For FC Bayern Munich he played 79 matches and has scored 17 times. He has participated in 41 senior international matches for Switzerland and has scored 15 goals for them.

With Steven Gerrard leaving the squad Shaqiri could add some creative sparks to the Liverpool midfield. The Liverpool faithful would hope that he is able to build up a partnership with the already established Raheem Sterling. If Paul Pogba leaves Juventus for Manchester United then the Italian champions could sweeten their deal and compete with Liverpool for the services of the young Swiss midfielder. After all there are only so many players available that can make a substantial difference to a squad with individual capability.

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