Liverpool hopeful of Xherdan Shaqiri January deal as Roberto Mancini casts doubt on Inter move

Liverpool have a chance of securing a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri during the January transfer window after Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini denied his club had agreed a deal.

Shaqiri, 23, has remained a peripheral figure under Pep Guardiola this season and is all but certain to leave the club this month.

Liverpool have held a long-term interest in the Swiss international and attempted to sign the player during the summer transfer window but Inter have moved into pole position to bring him to the San Siro.

Reports on Tuesday 6 January suggested Inter are only willing to take the player on loan until the end of the season, giving Liverpool the opportunity to sign him outright in the summer.

But speaking after Inter's 1-1 draw with Juventus on Tuesday, Mancini has suggested a deal is far from being concluded, a scenario that could see Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers bring Shaqiri to Anfield this season.

"I do not know if it will be possible," Mancini told reporters. "The coach always hopes to be able to do things quickly but sometimes you cannot."

Shaqiri, who can reportedly leave the Allianz Arena for just £10m this summer, can play on both wings as well as through the middle and would appear to fit Rodgers' need for "ready-made players".

Inter, however, who this week signed Lukas Podolski on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, are also in desperate need of players capable of delivering an instant impact who can help the club improve on their miserable season that sees them slumped in 11<sup>th in Serie A.

The Nerazzurri have also been heavily linked with Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah, who has continued to play a bit-part role at Stamford Bridge this season following his move from FC Basel in January 2014.

However, Jose Mourinho's refusal to consider offers for any members of his first-team squad is likely to prevent any deal from happening.