'Liverpool won't stop me' - Shaqiri tells club he wants to leave

Shaqiri has informed Liverpool officials of his desire to leave club after making just six starts for the Reds last season

Liverpool are expecting interest in Xherdan Shaqiri to step up this week with a host of clubs keen.

Sevilla, Villarreal, Napoli and Lazio are all understood to have contacted the forward's representatives to sound out the possibility of a switch away from Liverpool, who he joined three years ago.

It is believed, the Merseyside Reds have valued Shaqiri at around €15 million this summer.

The Reds had previously set an asking price at around £25m for the Switzerland international last year, with Sevilla and Roma keen.

But it is now understood that Lazio have emerged  frontrunners to land the 29-year-old who has since communicated his intentions to seek a new challenge outside Anfield.

Shaqiri told Italian publication Corriere dello Sport: "I told Liverpool board I feel ready for a new challenge.

"They accepted my decision and will now consider bids to sell me. Liverpool won’t stop me this summer.

"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.

"I'm only 29 years old, I have played in some of the best Leagues in Europe and I would like to continue being a part of them.

"I have no direct contact; my consultant team deals with the market. They inform me when there are clubs interested, you have to ask them for the names."