Xherdan Shaqiri reveals Liverpool, Atletico Madrid interest

Stoke City midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has revealed that Liverpool tried to sign him during his time at Bayern Munich.

The Reds were strongly linked with a move for the Switzerland international before the 2014 World Cup, only for Bayern to block any exit from the club.

Shaqiri eventually joined Inter Milan in 2015 before moving to Stoke later that year, but he confirmed that both Liverpool and Atletico Madrid were interested in him before that.

"I wanted to leave in summer by all means and had offers from Liverpool and Atletico," he told Spox.

"Brendan Rodgers called me several times before the World Cup. But Bayern forbid me to leave."

Shaqiri has already matched his goalscoring tally from his debut season at Stoke this term.