Xherdan Shaqiri “Decided to Stay With Liverpool” Despite Transfer Interest

Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images

The Swiss international—now in isolation due to coronavirus—says staying with the Reds was his choice.

As deadline day approached, what seemed a certain departure for Xherdan Shaqiri turned into a Liverpool stay—one that could mean another season of limited minutes for the Swiss international and that also leaves the Reds with one more senior foreign player than they can register.

However, at the end of the day Shaqiri says that it was his decision to remain at Anfield for another season, with a fight for minutes with the defending Premier League champions a more appealing option than joining any of the clubs that may have been interested in signing the 28-year-old.

“I have decided to stay with Liverpool,” Shaqiri said shortly after joining up with the Swiss national team—and before the player received a positive coronavirus test earlier today. “The media write a lot, but in the end I am with Liverpool. I have a long-term contract and I really feel good.”

Given Shaqiri was held out of last week’s League Cup tie with Arsenal—a game in which he was expected to start—it’s clear it was more than simple media speculation. Whatever the reason, though, Shaqiri is now expected to stay with the Reds for the entirety of the 2020-21 football season.

“In football there is always speculation,” he noted, before adding he was looking forward to playing for Switzerland before returning to Liverpool to fight for minutes—though both playing for the national team and returning to fight for minutes are for the time being at least on hold.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com