Latest media reports are confirming that Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri could be set to leave the Bet 365 stadium. The Potters were the first team this season to get relegated from the English Premier League and it seems they will now have to pay the price for their drop.
Stoke has an abundance of talent in the team with the likes of Jack Butland, Joe Allen and Xherdan Shaqiri all playing for the Potters. However, Stoke’s relegation will mean that the club will face major financial restrictions and may have to sell out a few star players to balance the books.
Moreover, their players are also being targeted with Butland and Allen already in demand. It now seems that Shaqiri has also joined the bandwagon with a host of clubs interested in his signature. It is being reported that the Premier League trio of West Ham United, Everton and Crystal Palace are interested in him.
West Ham United had a rather poor season and their manager David Moyes will be looking to strengthen the squad over the summer. Shaqiri would be a good addition but Moyes’ worry will be more at the back and hence Shaqiri should not be his first priority.
As for Palace, the Eagles have a star winger in their side in Wilfried Zaha. The Englishman has been excellent and reports indicate that top sides like Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are pursuing his signature.
Should these sides manage to poach Zaha, Palace boss Roy Hodgson will need an apt replacement thereby making Shaqiri a perfect fit. However, the transfer of Zaha is yet to take place and Hodgson should not jump the gun on Shaqiri until Zaha does leave the club.
The third interested party is Everton. The Toffees were expected to challenge the top six for a spot in Europe but things have unravelled rather poorly for them. A heavily assembled side was put together by new owner Farhad Moshiri last summer but Everton have performed below their expected standards. They will no doubt be looking for major reinforcements in the summer and Shaqiri could make his way to Merseyside.
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Everton signed Theo Walcott from Arsenal in the January transfer window and signing Shaqiri will give them two expert wingers to operate the flanks. Shaqiri also has a very attractive £12million release clause due to Stoke’s relegation thereby making the move all the more easy for the Toffees. Only time will tell now if Everton will get their man.
