Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Xherdan Shaqiri and Marco Reus

While Liverpool have been busy in the summer transfer window, the fact that a proven, world-class name is yet to put pen to paper at Anfield will have some fans feeling a little worried.

The sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona means that a void has opened up in the club’s front line, and though the Reds have tried to plug the hole with a series of signings, they still need the kind of spark that only a world-renowned asset can bring.

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Divock Origi’s signing from Lille, per BBC Sport, means that Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert have company in the battle for a starting position, but it’s who’s sitting just behind the strikers that appears to have manager Brendan Rodgers’ attention.

Swiss sensation Xherdan Shaqiri has reportedly been top of Rodgers’ wish list in attacking midfield for some time, and the Reds were said to have made a £14.2 million bid for the 22-year-old on Friday, per Blick (via the Metro).

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The offer is reportedly in the region of Bayern Munich’s valuation of Shaqiri, who has found first-team chances hard to come by since switching to the Allianz Arena in 2012.

While Bayern are seemingly yet to respond to Liverpool’s bid, Bleacher Report jokingly revealed that Shaqiri himself has dropped a hint that he could be on the move to Anfield:

Hardly the most conventional of hints, sure, but Reds fans will take it. Besides, we saw Luke Shaw do the same ahead of his big-money switch to Manchester United.

It’s the closest Liverpool fans will come to getting some answers on the Shaqiri transfer saga, too, as the man himself took to Facebook to reveal that he has been keeping his cards close to his chest all summer, per the Metro:

“It is the time of year when much is written, but as we all know, there is very little truth behind it. As you all know I am currently on holiday so I am not in talks with other clubs nor have I spoken with any journalists.”

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While that will hardly fill the Reds with optimism, the fact that an offer is reportedly on the table means that Rodgers is keen to do business for the talented youngster and will hopefully be able to negotiate with the Bundesliga champions.

Staying in the German top flight now, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus has reportedly refused to sign a new contract with BVB.

As Eliot Rothwell of the Daily Mirror revealed, Reus turned down the chance to extend his current deal with Dortmund, opening the door to a possible move elsewhere.

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Liverpool are reportedly interested in Reus, but it’s unlikely that they will be moving for the German this summer.

Rothwell writes that Dortmund is unwilling to sell, and with Reus’ release clause dropping to £27 million in one year’s time, clubs will likely wait until 2015 to strike.

If their success continues next season then they may well push for the 25-year-old in the summer, but as BBC Sport’s Ben Smith revealed, right now it’s not happening:

Liverpool have been linked to Dortmund’s starlet, though, and while Reus won’t be wearing red next term, Rodgers can put the plans in place to make it happen next time around.

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Either one of Shaqiri or Reus would be the signing that Liverpool fans need to prove that they can be taken seriously next season, but the likelihood of even one of them going through appears bleaker by the day.

It’s up to Rodgers, then, to take some action, and while Shaqiri isn’t quite as high-profile a star as Reus, his price tag, ability and immediate availability mean that he’s well worth pursuing.

Much like Shaqiri, though, the transfer saga is set to run and run.