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Roma are reportedly still pursuing Xherdan Shaqiri and have told Liverpool they want to sign the midfielder on loan with an option to buy.

The Swiss international has been linked with a move to the Serie A side for some time after finding himself out of favour at Anfield.

The 28-year-old has only been a bit-part player for Liverpool this season as they storm towards the Premier League title.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was previously not keen on allowing the former Inter Milan man to leave the club in case he was needed further down the line.

But Shaqiri has still only made 10 appearances in all competitions this season and would prefer to play more football in the lead up to Euro 2020.

The Giallorossi are on the lookout for a replacement for the injured Nicolo Zaniolo, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a game against Juventus.

Zaniolo is now expected to miss the remainder of the Serie A season as he recovers.

And they have turned to Shaqiri, according to Sky Sports Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio .

He reports that they have requested to take him on loan with option to buy at the end of the season.

Klopp has previously expressed a strong desire to keep his first team squad together now until the end of the season and this is unlikely to change.

The German is aware he has a lean squad, and with injuries he’s had limited selection options through December and January.

Klopp did sanction a loan move for teenage striker Rhian Brewster to allow him to gain more experience at Swansea, and he has also allowed defender Nat Phillips to return to Stuttgart to complete a loan period there, after he was briefly recalled to play in the FA Cup.

But allowing a more senior player like Shaqiri to leave with the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup still to play for seems unlikely.

Liverpool are currently a massive 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.

The only team they have not beaten yet this season are bitter rivals Manchester United , who they welcome to Anfield on Sunday.

And it would be fairly ironic if the Red Devils managed to avoid defeat to the all conquering Reds as they romp to the title.