Shaqiri facing Lyon axe after nightmare four months since Liverpool transfer

Former Liverpool midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri could be jettisoned by new club Lyon after just half a season, having failed to make the desired impact in Ligue 1.

The Swiss international moved in a cut-price deal over the summer, having helped his country reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.

However, after just one goal all season, he has fallen out of favour at the Stade de Lyon and his wages are causing a problem for the French side as they languish in the bottom half of the table.

It continues a difficult run for Shaqiri, who scored just once for Liverpool last season and struggled for games under Jurgen Klopp before making the move abroad amid interest from the likes of Lazio.

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Shaqiri joined Lyon over the summer for a fee which could rise to £9.5m, with the French club subsequently offloading the likes of Maxwel Cornet and Joachim Andersen amid financial worries.

The move came after a quiet season with Liverpool in which he played just 14 league games and scored his only goal in the Carabao Cup.

He was the only summer Lyon signing to command a fee, with Jerome Boateng joining on a free and Emerson arriving on loan from Chelsea.

However, Peter Bosz's side have won just six of their first 18 league games and currently sit 13th in the table, seven points adrift of the Champions League spots.

According to L'Equipe (via Get French Football News ), Lyon want rid of the former Liverpool man in January, with his €350,000 per month wages (equivalent to more than £70,000 per week) described as "ridiculous" given the wider financial difficulties.

He has played just 13 times for the club in all competitions, remaining on the bench for their last league game against Metz on December 22.

Shaqiri's most recent appearance came in a 1-1 draw with Rangers on December 9, while his only goal for Lyon - in a 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Troyes - was all the way back in September.

Shaqiri isn't the only Lyon player to have been linked with a January move as the French side aim to turn their season around.

Brazil international Lucas Paqueta has reportedly turned down an approach from Newcastle United as the Premier League club prepare for a busy window in their battle against relegation.

Another of Lyon's Brazilian contingent, Bruno Guimaraes, has been linked with Arsenal as the Gunners prepare for a period without Africa Cup of Nations-bound Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.

According to Globo (via football.london ), the 24-year-old would set the London side back £38m, and any move would likely need to be funded by player sales with Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi among those touted to leave the club.