Liverpool are interested in Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri, according to the Metro. The 21-year-old Swiss international only played a squad role in the Bavarians' impressive run to the Bundesliga and Champions League double last year, starting 14 games in those two competitions combined.

However, he did score five goals and create seven more in that time.

Xherdan Shaqiri
Reuters

The report claims Pep Guardiola will ask for £20m (roughly €23.1m) to release Shaqiri, who cost Munich €9m when signed from Swiss side FC Basel in 2012. The youngster is contracted to the Allianz Arena till 2016.

Brendan Rodgers has been active in the summer transfer market so far, with four signings already completed - Spanish duo Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto and Ivory Coast centre-back Kolo Toure and Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet have joined the club.

However, the former Swansea City manager has previously made it clear he is looking for attacking reinforcements and, to that end, was linked with Shakhtar Donetsk's goal-scoring midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Unfortunately, contract details put paid to hopes of a transfer for the Armenian, who has since moved to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

Meanwhile, Shaqiri's future at Munich appears uncertain, particularly since the arrival of German international Mario Götze, who moves from domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund for a German record fee of €37m.

The Metro claims the Swiss will meet the former Barcelona manager this coming week and the two will discuss his position at the club. The problem for Liverpool is Munich do value Shaqiri highly and, in Guardiola, have a manager who has a reputation for grooming talented youngsters.

The German club may, therefore, present the Reds with a loan deal but that is not something Rodgers is keen on; the Northern Irishman agreed a temporary deal for Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin last season, allowing him to move from Madrid but he failed to establish himself in the first team.

"What is important over the next three to five weeks is improving the team. That is something the club is working very hard at. I'm sure by the time the end of August comes we'll be ready and we'll have a terrific squad ready to challenge," Rodgers told the club's website.

The Reds are also monitoring Brazilian midfielder Bernard but will have to fight Tottenham and Donetsk for his signature.