Xherdan Shaqiri would prefer a move to Inter over Liverpool

Now that Juventus has pulled out of the race to sign Xherdan Shaqiri, Italian papers (particularly the Gazzetta dello Sport) are insisting that the Bayern winger would prefer a move to Inter over Liverpool and that the he has gone so far as to reach an agreement in principle regarding a possible move to the Italian club.

The final word, of course, will go to Bayern, and it is reported that the two clubs will begin negotiations in the near future. Several outlets have claimed that Inter have offered to take Shaqiri on loan with a mandatory buy-out clause hovering near €15 million, while Liverpool have offered to pay Bayern a reported €14 million up front. Shaqiri's personal preferences will likely play a large role in his future either way, as Bayern are certainly not short on cash and can afford to wait and see how the club's respective pursuits unfold.

Apparently, Shaqiri is not so interested in a move to Anfield, as the Merseyside club is currently a bit overstocked on the wings. Inter would appear to be a much more appealing move to the Swiss international, as Mancio has reportedly spoken with Shaqiri and expressed his desire to make the 23-year-old winger a central part of his plan to bring the Nerazzurri back to European glory.

Shaqiri has repeatedly expressed frustration with his lack of playing time under Bayern manager Pep Guardiola, so if it is truly consistent playing time he desires (rather than just money), a move to the San Siro would seem to make a great deal of sense for the young, talented winger. If Shaqiri does indeed make his way to Milan, he could suit up for the Nerazzurri as soon as next Sunday for Inter's clash against Genoa.

Now, if this deal does not come to fruition, Inter are still keeping Paris Saint-Germain's Ezequiel Lavezzi on the back burner. It has been reported that Il Biscione are willing to make an offer for the Argentine international which would include a loan deal with the option to purchase at around €7 million.

I personally think there's more mileage to be gotten out of Shaqiri, and he was fun to watch for Switzerland in the run up to the World Cup. But who would you rather see join the ranks - Shaqiri or Lavezzi, and why?