The St Gallen defender is also being watched keenly by Ligue 1 side Montpellier, and Stoke could strike soon.
Stoke City fans inside the stadium before the game
Stoke City are keeping a close eye on St Gallan defender Silvan Hefti, with the 19-year-old defender also drawing attraction from other corners of Europe, as reported by Blick and covered by the Stoke Sentinel.
Hefti is a Switzerland U21 international, and has represented his country in every age group apart from the full national side, and is being tipped for a big future on the international stage in the years to come.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes
Ligue 1 side Montpellier are also hot on the heels of Hefti, who is reportedly available for £800k despite being under contract until 2020, and it is thought that the player would be open to a move to either side.
Where Stoke have an advantage in negotiations – if they so choose to pursue them – is with Xherdan Shaqiri, who is a leading star in both the Switzerland national side and the Stoke team, as he could be used to try and sell the club to Hefti as best as possible.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates after the match
Stoke boss Mark Hughes has already started his summer transfer recruitment by signing experienced midfielder Darren Fletcher to the club on a free transfer from Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion, with the former Manchester United man signing a two-year-deal, as reported by BBC Sport.
The Potters will be hoping for a better Premier League campaign next term, as Stoke finished the season in 13th – four places below where they finished in the 2015/16 season, though the club were only two points behind eighth placed Southampton.
West Bromwich Albion’s Darren Fletcher
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