Paul Merson has hailed Liverpool’s summer transfer business and claimed Xherdan Shaqiri is already worth £22million more than what the club paid for him.
Speaking to the Sky Sports website, the pundit and former England international is convinced the Merseysiders have done “unbelievable” summer business, highlighting the capture of a player from relegated Stoke City.
“They’ve made unbelievable signings. Xherdan Shaqiri could be one of the signings of the window, he could be worth £35m now and the season hasn’t even started. This team will close the gap.
“Win the Premier League? No, but they can beat Man City in a one-off game. They did it enough times last season, but 25 points is a lot to make up in one season.
“It won’t be through a lack of good buys, though, because they are really good buys. Their Achilles heel for me will be against the lesser teams and if they can break them down but I’m all over Liverpool, I think they’re the team who will come second.”
OPINION
Shaqiri is a brilliant signing partly because he is a bargain and also because he provides an already multi-faceted attack with a new dimension. Liverpool paid £12.75million to trigger his release clause this summer, according to the Standard, and Merson’s claim that he is worth £22million more than that without kicking a ball for the club is hard to dispute. A experienced Switzerland international who is proven in the Premier League, Shaqiri is capable of moments of magic and match-winning brilliance. His guile, quick feet and pace will be invaluable at various points over the season, especially when resilient opponents are shutting up shop on the edge of the Liverpool penalty box and refusing to allow Mohamed Salah and company space in behind. Indeed, Shaqiri has already served notice of what he can do for his new employers with a stunning overhead kick goal in Liverpool’s pre-season demolition of Manchester United in the US.