Liverpool Transfer News: Xherdan Shaqiri Revelation, Latest Niklas Sule Rumours

Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri has revealed how Bayern Munich blocked his move to Liverpool in 2014, while Bayern Munich are close to landing reported Reds target Niklas Sule.

Shaqiri was a wanted man after a solid showing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which included scoring a hat-trick against Honduras, and a transfer away from Bayern seemed inevitable with the Switzerland international struggling for playing time.

Speaking to Spox (h/t Liverpool Echo's James Pearce), the 25-year-old revealed how then-Reds manager Brendan Rodgers tried desperately to land him and how he eventually settled on Inter Milan a year later:

"

I wanted to leave that summer and had offers from Liverpool and Atletico.

Brendan Rodgers called me several times before the World Cup. But Bayern forbade me to leave.

Inter wanted me the most. They promised me a new Inter.

The reception was really crazy. A security man nearly choked me because there was chaos. The lifestyle was amazing, they were the best six months of my life.

The football was very tactical. It was difficult to bring in my explosive style of playing. There was training in which I shot corners for two hours. I never experienced this before.

"

Shaqiri only spent half a season in the Italian fashion capital before moving to Stoke, where he has finally found some stability. At the time, it was seen as a tremendous coup for the Potters, but the former FC Basel player hasn't progressed as expected or turned into the world-class forward people projected him to be.

Alex Morton/Getty Images

In his first Premier League season, he was limited to 27 outings and scored three goals, per WhoScored.com. He has already matched that tally this season.

It's easy to forget how much raw talent he showed during his time in Bavaria, however, and how badly Liverpool fans wanted the Swiss to join. Here's a look at some of his top highlights from his time in Germany:

One can only wonder how Shaqiri would have fared at Anfield and whether the speedster could have saved Rodgers, who was desperate to add a creative force of the Swiss' calibre at the time.

Meanwhile, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim general manager Alexander Rosen has admitted Sule will likely leave the club soon, with Bayern Munich said to be closing in on a deal.

According to Bild (h/t Daily Star's Joel Watson), Chelsea are also interested in the 21-year-old, and Rosen believes it's easy to see why:

"

Sooner or later, the moment is also bound to come when Niklas Sule moves on, but we will see whether that is this summer or in two years.

Every one of Europe's top clubs are looking at him. He will soon have 100 Bundesliga appearances, he's a Germany international and was born in 1995 - let's be honest, clubs would be stupid not to be keen on him.

"

Per FourFourTwo's Michael Yokhin, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the Germany international, who turned down a move to the Premier League last summer.

TF-Images/Getty Images

The powerful centre-back already has bags of experience despite his young age, and he has long been regarded as one of Germany's top defensive talents. His progression has been impressive in the last two seasons, leading to plenty of transfer speculation.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Bayern again seem to have stolen a march on all other contenders―the Bavarians tend to land the majority of top talents in Germany's highest divisions. Sule isn't expected to move to the Allianz Arena until the summer, however.