Premier league: Liverpool's Star Midfielder Close To Anfield Exit, Set To Join Lyon

Liverpool FC midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is set to leave Anfield to join Lyon in the 2021 summer transfer window.

Liverpool have agreed a fee of $13 million with Lyon for Shaqiri's transfer, reported The Guardian. Shaqiri had been a target of Lyon sporting director Juninho and head coach Peter Bosz. He will soon undergo medical in France, while he has already agreed to personal terms with Lyon.

“Olympique Lyonnais is pleased to have finally reached an agreement in principle with Liverpool for the transfer of the Swiss international midfielder, Xherdan Shaqiri, who was a key figure for his country at this summer's European Championship,” Lyon said in an official release.

The release also stated that on Shaqiri's arrival in Lyon, "the finalization of the last administrative formalities" would also take place.

Liverpool have been planning Shaqiri's sale for a year now and it was one of the reasons why they had loaned Harvey Elliott to Blackburn so he could get some vital game time, according to Sky Sports. Now back at Anfield, the 18-year-old midfielder started against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday and impressed in a 2-0 win.

The Reds are not going to find a replacement for Shaqiri as their focus is understood to be on Elliott at the moment.

Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Shaqiri revealed he had informed Liverpool that he is ready to face a new challenge and Liverpool had agreed to consider offers for the Swiss midfielder.

Shaqiri is coming off a superb show for Switzerland in the Euros 2020, scoring three goals and one assist in five matches. However, he has not been a regular member of the Liverpool team over the last couple of years.

Last season, Shaqiri made only 22 appearances for Liverpool across competitions. Of the 22 matches, 14 were in the Premier League, where he made just five starts. During the Premier League-winning season 2019-20, Shaqiri was hardly involved, playing only seven league games. The 29-year-old made only 11 competitive appearances for Liverpool that season, scoring one goal.

“The important thing at this moment in my career is to be able to play regularly, but that hasn’t always been the case in the last three seasons. This is why I told Liverpool that I feel ready for a new challenge. They accepted my wish and will seriously consider the offers that will come. They will not stop me," said Shaqiri in a recent interview.

In the summer of 2018, Liverpool signed Shaqiri from Stoke City at $18 million on a five-year contract. He went on to play 63 times for Liverpool, across all competitions, scoring eight goals and nine assists. He was a part of the Liverpool side that won four trophies between 2019 and 2020 -- Champions League, Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and Premier League.