Is Xherdan Shaqiri Premier League’s Transfer of the Year?

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Although he doesn’t get a chance as a starter too often, Xherdan Shaqiri knows how to step up when called upon. His recent game against Manchester United, where he tallied two goals to his stat line, showed that Liverpool made the right call this summer. As his form keeps going up as the season progresses, we can’t help but ask – Is Xherdan Shaqiri Premier League’s transfer of the year?

 

You can make a case that there have been a few players that have warranted their transfer prices this season. But, when you consider all of the factors that go into Xherdan’s season, as well as the importance of his impact on the team, so far it’s safe to say that Xherdan Shaqiri is well on his way to prove himself as the Premier League transfer of the year.

 

Many sports betting sites agree on this, and also put Liverpool as the frontrunner to lift the Premier League title and finally end their drought. If you’re a Liverpool fan who likes to bet on his team or a betting enthusiast in general, you can check out sites like Sportsbetting24, where you’ll find detailed and updated betting site reviews and bonus codes that will give you the upper hand when betting on your favourite team or player.

A Brief Backstory of the Transfer

Xherdan Shaqiri signed with Liverpool for a £13.5 million deal, which triggered his previous clubs’ transfer clause. With big names like Alisson and Naby Keita joining the club during the summer, Shaqiri’s transfer wasn’t met with particular media coverage compared to the two. He was brought to the club mainly to add a bit more depth to the squad and provide an impact from the bench. Plus, for a player of his skills and experience, the £13.5 million deal was a bargain.

Xherdan’s Stats and Season so Far

Overall, it would be an understatement to say the Xherdan was a steal for the Reds. After only a couple of months, the Swiss striker has made a great impression at his new club, and nearly doubled his transfer market worth according to Transfermarkt, as he’s currently valued at over £22 million.


Looking at just the numbers, you won’t be able to see how much Shaqiri actually contributed to Liverpool’s offence. He has made appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, and the EFL, amassing 5 goals and 3 assists across the three competitions. The more important information you need to know lies behind these stats. It is visible only if you saw Shaqiri in action for Liverpool, and is his impact on the pitch.


Every time the fast-paced Swiss comes into play, Liverpool adapts a faster, more fluid type of attacking tactic. Shaqiri knows how to present a threat to the opposing team, which he perfectly demonstrated in the win against Man Utd. This was his best performance of the season so far, but also a telltale sign that he can be a very useful weapon in Klopp’s arsenal.

Direct Comparison of Shaqiri’s Transfer With Other Similar Deals

At only £13.5 million, Liverpool didn’t exactly break the bank of this transfer and brought great returns on a relatively low-risk investment. With that said, the 2018 summer transfer window was a busy one, with many players changing homes. That’s why it would be fair to compare Shaqiri’s season so far with other Premier League transfers of similar value to see how they’ve held up so far.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Aleksandar Mitrovic had an excellent season last year and was one of the main reasons for Fulham’s success and promotion to the Premier League. But there are few people who expected that Mitrovic would have the season he is having this year, with seven Premier League goals and two assists so far. If he continues like this, Mitro will certainly be moving to a bigger team very soon.

Lucas Digne

Although it may not fair to compare a striker and a defender, Lucas Digne, playing left back for Everton, has undoubtedly made an instant impact on his team in the 2018/2019 season. He was signed from Barcelona for an 18 million pounds transfer fee and has been a great addition to the squad. Digne notched up a goal and three assists from the left-back position. The 25-year-old is one of the players that should be in the running for Premier League transfer of the year.

 

Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86624586@N00/42173686540

 

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