Liverpool Transfer News: Xherdan Shaqiri Warned, Latest Karim Benzema Rumours

Xherdan Shaqiri has been warned not to move to Liverpool in January, a club described as in "crisis" and "lacking ambition." It is an unflattering description that will likely also hinder the Reds' hopes of luring Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.

Shaqiri, who's currently floundering on the bench for Bayern Munich, has been told to ignore Liverpool's advances by one-time Switzerland international Kubilay Turkyilmaz.

The former Grasshopper Zurich star believes Shaqiri should stay at Bayern, where winning has become the norm, per Daily Express reporter Jamie Anderson: "Joining them from Bayern, who expect to win titles every season, would be a culture shock."

Shaqiri has been drawing interest from Liverpool ahead of the January window, according to Daily Star reporter Nick Lustig. The player brilliantly dubbed the "Alpine Lionel Messi," would answer the Reds' dual need for greater skill and creativity in attack.

That's something B/R's Janusz Michallik believes the current squad is missing and must acquire during January:

Shaqiri certainly possesses the qualities Michallik believes Liverpool lack. He is quick, intelligent and has an appetite for goals.

The 23-year-old may not have made the grade in Munich, but he still has plenty of room to reach his considerable potential. B/R's Sam Tighe recently commended Shaqiri's technical quality, physical strength and versatility, even comparing him to current Bayern ace Franck Ribery:

Those are the qualities that would quickly endear Shaqiri to Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers. He values flexible and creative pint-sized technicians.

It's not even as if Liverpool are as short of those qualities as Michallik suggested. Playmakers such as Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Lazar Markovic offer ample skill and flair.

But Shaqiri offers one clear difference. Namely, he can be a lot more direct. The barrel-chested diminutive dynamo regularly puts himself into scoring positions and is never shy about taking a shot.

Shaqiri is certainly a better option than another Liverpool target, Stephan El Shaarawy. The Reds have been quoted an £11.5 million fee for the floundering AC Milan forward, per Daily Express writer David Wright.

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However, the 22-year-old has never lived up to his billing in Serie A. This is one deal Rodgers and Liverpool should avoid.

The club should also prioritise a bid for Shaqiri over any move for Paris Saint-Germain veteran Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Merseyside club was recently linked with an £8 million bid for Lavezzi, per Daily Express writer Ben Jefferson. Like Shaqiri, the 29-year-old Argentinian is very flexible, able to play as a winger, a No. 10 or even as a natural centre-forward.

But PSG and Lavezzi aren't as keen on parting ways as it might appear. That's according to French publication Le Parisien, per France-based journalist Jonathan Johnson:

Yet while some of Rodgers' prospective targets appear out of his reach, he may have received a boost in the rather fanciful proposed moved for Benzema. Daily Star reporter Chisanga Malata suggests that Real Madrid's long-standing interest in a Premier League striker could help Liverpool land the Frenchman:

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Several publications in Spain claim last season's Champions League winners are still keen to snap up the former Atletico Madrid striker, who has scored two goals in 10 appearances for the Red Devils this season.

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Sources in Spain claim Real are so desperate to sign the 28-year-old that they are willing to sell Karim Benzema to Liverpool in order to fund a bid for the Monaco loanee.

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On the surface, Benzema is a great fit for Liverpool. Although he's a towering striker, the Los Blancos ace is anything but the traditional, overtly physical target man.

Instead, the former Lyon star is blessed with tremendous technical quality and natural flair. That's the kind of striker Rodgers covets.

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However, any deal still seems highly unlikely. For one thing, Malata references Benzema agreeing a new contract with Los Merengues this summer, as well as his current prolific form. That's hardly the context for selling a player.

As for Madrid's proposed fondness for Falcao, that may make little difference mid-season. After a rocky start to his loan spell, the Colombian is starting to become a regular fixture for Manchester United.

Falcao has started the Red Devils' last three matches. He's also hit two goals and provided three assists for Liverpool's great rival, per WhoScored.com.

Maybe Madrid can work out a deal with parent club Monaco, but it's safer to assume any such arrangement would be planned next summer, rather than in January.

More importantly, Rodgers appeared to rule out major deals this winter. That's according to Liverpool Echo reporter James Pearce:

But if Rodgers only makes one deal in January, Shaqiri remains his best bet. That's despite the player being warned off the move.

It's now up to Rodgers to convince the Swiss star that he can fulfil his ambitions in the Premier League.