£12m for Xherdan Shaqiri, Everton and West Ham competing for brilliant bargain

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Stoke City’s Premier League relegation will see Xherdan Shaqiri leave with Everton and West Ham United circling.

Stoke City have been relegated from the Premier League but no one could blame Xherdan Shaqiri.

Yes the Swiss international has tended to blow hot and cold but he has done everything in his considerable powers to keep The Potters in the top flight. Shaqiri scored a wonderful free-kick prior to the capitulation against Crystal Palace which sealed Stoke’s fate – and set up Badou Ndiaye’s goal in the win at Swansea City on Sunday with a glorious chipped pass.

In total, the former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan winger tallied eight goals and seven assists in 2017/18.

So he’d be a fine signing for a club higher up the Premier League pyramid – such as Everton and West Ham United.

According to The Sun, The Toffees and The Hammers are among the sides keen to sign Shaqiri this summer – and he will be available for just £12 million due to a release clause in his contract which will come into effect now Stoke’s relegation has been confirmed.

In today’s market, £12 million for a player of Shaqiri’s quality is a no-brainer. That sort of fee would usually get you a Championship centre-forward or a solid if limited footballer like Sam Clucas – not an international attacker who has won the Champions League and scored arguably the goal of the tournament at Euro 2016.

Shaqiri, at £12 million, could be the best pound-for-pound signing in this summer’s transfer window, which is extra motivation for both Everton and West Ham to swoop.