Xherdan Shaqiri has barely been in the Liverpool team in recent months.

The Switzerland international moved to the club in 2018, as the Reds triggered the release clause in his Stoke City contract after the Potters’ relegation.

They paid £13m to snaffle him away from the club and he has gone on to make 42 appearances for the club since his move.

In that time, he has scored eight goals and laid on five assists but last season, he struggled to make any sort of impression under Klopp.

Having made 24 appearances in the Premier League in 2018/19, he made just seven league appearances in 19/20, and only two of those were starts.

His contract expires in 2023 and there were reports that he could well have left Anfield in the summer, but Goal reported earlier this week that there were no bids tabled for the winger.

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However, the 28-year-old has now contradicted that and insisted that it was his decision to stay on Merseyside.

Speaking to Thuner Tagblatt, as transcribed by Sport Witness, he said: “The media write a lot, but in the end I’m with Liverpool.

“I have a long-term contract, and I really feel good. I have decided to stay with Liverpool. In football, there is always speculation.

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“I think the national team comes at a good time to be able to play again and then attack again when I go back to Liverpool.”

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

This doesn’t really make a lot of sense.

Shaqiri is not playing at Anfield and this is a player who would surely walk into most clubs below an elite level.

It may well be that there wasn’t any interest, as reported, but it could also be that Shaqiri didn’t want to move, as he says.

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One has to think that a transfer could have been in his best interests, as he looked to play and prove his worth.

But perhaps he just doesn’t want to, and is happy to sit on Klopp’s bench, watching on as the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane star.

There's not a lot of ambition there.