Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri recently confirmed that he is planning to leave Bet 365 Stadium after his side suffered a relegation. Stoke were expected to be somewhere around the mid-table mark but some poor signings and some atrocious display on the field, the team went down after finishing 19th on the table.
Shaqiri recently said in an interview,” It is no longer a secret that I will leave Stoke City. I think the Premier League is perfect for me. I would love to stay in England, but I do not want to rule anything out. It is the best league with the best players – simple.”
The announcement shouldn’t come as a surprise as it was pretty much expected that the Swiss international will move on to another club after the Potters went down. According to latest reports, a host of Premier League clubs are after his signature and one of them is Southampton. Saints are currently managed by Mark Hughes who brought Shaqiri to England from Italian giants Inter Milan.
Shaqiri was one of the few players who provided some moment of inspiration last season. He managed 8 goals and seven assists and was one of the few bright spots for the Potters in a forgettable season.
The Saints had a dismal season themselves as they somehow managed to survive relegation. It seems like constant raiding from top clubs of their prized talents has certainly taken a toll on them and they need to bring in reinforcements in the summer so that they don’t have to go through another relegation scare.
Shaqiri will certainly bring a lot of attacking impetus if he decides to join Southampton. He is still just 26 and can be a vital player for them in years to come. His release clause is set at £12m and according to reports, Mark Hughes will be willing to activate it which will reunite him with his former player.
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The South Coast team are not much blessed in the attacking department. They currently have the likes of Nathan Redmond and Sofiane Boufal who flatter to deceive more often than not and Shaqiri will definitely be an upgrade over the two. He has got a vicious left foot and is a goal threat in and around the box. His playmaking skills are also top notch and the Saints will certainly boost their attacking options if they manage to sign him amidst competition from various other English clubs.
