“A change would be good” – International boss wants Liverpool man to leave the club | OneFootball

Switzerland national team manager Otmar Hitzfeld is pushing Xhedran Shaqiri to leave Liverpool in search of regular first-team football elsewhere.

Hitzfeld is not happy with the minutes Shaqiri is getting on Merseyside and says that a move to another Premier League team or back to the Bundesliga could be useful for the forward.

Speaking to Blick, as transcribed by Sport Witness, Hitzfeld said that he wants Shaqiri to move on from Anfield. “As a coach, I know it: your regular eleven works and you want a refreshment on the bench. That Shaqiri wasn’t even on the line-up is a clear sign from the coach.

“Xherdan should move to a club where he plays regularly. He must be happy again; we all want to see happy Xherdan again. A change would be good for everyone around him and for his fans.

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“A Premier League club in secure midfield would be a good step, or in the Bundesliga a club like Gladbach, Leverkusen or Wolfsburg. To gain a foothold again and to get match practice.”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Hitzfeld has a point and a move away from Liverpool could help Shaqiri given the lack of minutes he has had on the pitch in recent seasons. In his first two seasons at Liverpool Shaqiri only made 13 Premier League start and he is yet to play a single minute in the current league campaign, despite scoring in his League Cup appearance against Lincoln.

Of course, Hitzfeld is going to want Shaqiri in the best condition possible to perform at his peak for Switzerland in international games, so it makes sense for him to come out with these comments. However, the deal has to be right for Liverpool and if no clubs come in with an acceptable offer for the forward then he will need to bide his time and take any chances that come his way.

If he can continue to score goals in the cup competitions and show Jurgen Klopp that he can still be a useful option in the Premier League, he may get more minutes. So, if Shaqiri does not find a new club before the end of the transfer window it is down to him to fight his way into the Liverpool side.