Liverpool will reportedly complete the signing of Stoke City attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri before the end of the weekend – and supporters are celebrating his potential arrival.
Joe senior correspondent Melissa Reddy, who is renowned for being a reliable source of Liverpool news, reported on her personal Twitter account on Friday morning that Shaqiri is due on Merseyside side to “finalise” a £13million transfer to the club.
Reddy explained that Jurgen Klopp’s team are likely to officially unveil Shaqiri as their third senior signing before Sunday night.
Xherdan Shaqiri is due on Merseyside today to finalise the formalities of his £13m transfer from #SCFC to #LFC. If all goes as planned, official confirmation on a deal should follow before the end of the weekend.
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) July 13, 2018
The progress of the deal has delighted Liverpool fans, who took to social media en masse to react to the update.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
https://twitter.com/iamgerrardoxa/status/1017660180295770112
— Mikey B (@willywilbert987) July 13, 2018
The more and more I think about it the more it makes sense. Hopefully will perform and a better option for us now
— Y N W A (@lfcynwa1968) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/Ricky052011/status/1017661662998990848
https://twitter.com/LFC_SDS/status/1017661049095507968
https://twitter.com/mo_salah_dosa/status/1017658774297894913
What a start to the weekend, thanks Mel
— m (@peerfect11367) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/oldhairy1/status/1017658641879568384
https://twitter.com/JSealeaf/status/1017658888110342144
COMMENTARY:
The reactions to Reddy’s update on Shaqiri, which reports he is set to be unveiled as a Liverpool player imminently – possibly even today – is proof of the esteem in which the player is held by many of the club’s fanbase. They know that the holy trinity of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane cannot carry the burden of creating and scoring the team’s goals throughout the entirety of the upcoming campaign. There will be occasions when Liverpool need an alternative, who can unlock an organised defence and provide a moment of inspiration. Shaqiri is not in the same class as Klopp’s first choice front three, but he will be an excellent back-up who is certainly an upgrade on the likes of Dominic Solanke and his fellow Anfield rookies. At £13million, the 26-year-old is an absolute bargain, whatever Gary Neville says.