Jurgen Klopp making first contact with Xherdan Shaqiri and his prolonged interest convinced the Swiss international to join the Anfield revolution rather than head to rivals Manchester United, it has been claimed.

According to Swiss publication Blick, Shaqiri was convinced to join Liverpool this summer by German manager Klopp despite United’s interest. Klopp’s negotiations in his ‘human manner’ also made Shaqiri’s mind up and the deal was soon complete.

United, along with Southampton and West Ham, had registered their interest in signing the Stoke player and paying his £13.5m release clause. But they were all beaten to the punch by Klopp.

According to the same website, Jose Mourinho was not able to make contact with Shaqiri as the deal had already been completed to take him to Merseyside.

The 26-year-old came off the bench for Liverpool against the Hammers in their 4-0 opening Premier League win on the weekend.

United also bagged a win on the opening day but they looked like they could do with a natural right winger, with Juan Mata starting the game in that position.