Metro reports that Liverpool will watch Basel midfielder Granit Xhaka for Switzerland this week, as they look to sign the 19 year old in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli was handed positive reports from scouts who watched Xhaka in the 1-0 win over Bayern Munich by the Swiss side. Comolli has now instructed them to take a second look at the Swiss international when he lines up against Argentina in midweek. Bundesliga side Hamburg have apparently made a bid for the 19 year old after they had Xhaka on trial in January. The bid was around £5.8m, which Liverpool reportedly see as a bargain for a player with such great potential as a midfielder.
The Reds are still in the hunt for a central midfielder and believe Xhaka is the kind of talent that represents excellent value, as well as superb potential. Xhaka currently has six Switzerland caps and has been tipped as a future captain of the side. Liverpool must act quickly with names such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United interested in the 19 year old, as well as European sides. The Swiss side may not be interested to sell just yet, as they want to hold onto one of their young prospects after letting Xherdan Shaqiri move to Bayern Munich.
Basel director Georg Heitz has issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in Xhaka, stating: ‘Thorsten Fink (Hamburg manager) has confirmed to me that they are interested in him and there has been an offer which we turned down swiftly. A transfer is simply not on the agenda for us. Of course a player like him attracts interest from other clubs. Hamburg are not alone in their interest. We also have other official offers.’
See what the expert tipsters at OLBG are tipping on Liverpool v Arsenal
