Liverpool have moved ever closer to signing Xherdan Shaqiri from Bayern Munich after trumping Inter Milan's offer.
Shaqiri is widely expected to leave Bayern in the January transfer window after seeing his opportunities under Pep Guardiola limited.
Liverpool were one of the obvious candidates to vie for his signature, with the club from the English Premier League reportedly missing out on inking a deal to bring Shaqiri last summer.
Manchester United were also reportedly keeping an eye, but Liverpool have held the most concrete interest, with Inter Milan joining the Reds in competing for Shaqiri.
Reports from Italy suggested, Inter were set to complete a move for the Switzerland international, only for Liverpool to move ahead with a more lucrative offer.
Liverpool will offer Bayern Munich a £1.5 million loan fee until the end of the season, before deciding on whether they will take up the offer to make the move permanent for a reported £8 million, according to the Daily Express.
Brendan Rodgers is also ready to offer Shaqiri better wages with Liverpool ready to pay the player £10,000 a week more than Inter are willing to part with, once, and if, the move is made permanent.
That better offer should pave the way for Shaqiri to move to the Premier League and sign for Liverpool, who do need a spark or two in their attacking line, with Inter Milan unlikely to go that extra mile to sign the 23-year-old having agreed a deal with Arsenal to bring Lukas Podolski to the San Siro.
While Shaqiri is not the striker that Liverpool require at the moment, there is little doubt that the player known as the "Alpine Messi" will give Rodgers another attacking option, and a potent one at that, be that in terms of scoring goals or setting them up.
Shaqiri has the ability to play across the forwardline, with the player comfortable playing from the wings or in that number 10 role.
Liverpool currently have plenty of players who can play in those positions, but Shaqiri, if he finds form, has the ability to make the place his own. If the loan move reports turn out to be true, then Rodgers will also have the option of deciding on if Shaqiri is worth that permanent punt based on his performances in the second half of the season.
Changes are afoot at Liverpool with Steven Gerrard set for a summer exit, and bringing in players of Shaqiri's quality will help the club overcome the loss of one of their greatest ever players.
