Stoke say no enquiry has come in from Roma for Xherdan Shaqiri.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri
Stoke City have denied speculation linking Xherdan Shaqiri with a move to AS Roma this summer as the Italians look to replace Mohamed Salah.
The Stoke Sentinel reported that Roma sporting director Monchi had identified Shaqiri as the ideal replacement for Salah following his transfer to Liverpool.
Yet Potteries chairman Peter Coates has now spoken publicly about the rumours and has stated that the attacking midfielder will not be leaving the Bet365 Stadium.
“No, there is nothing in that [speculation],” Coates told the Stoke Sentinel.
“There are no plans to sell him either. He seems very settled with us and towards the end of the season he came back [from injury] and did well.
“We are settled with him, too, and are hoping to see a good season from him next season.”
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri in action with Chelsea’s Diego Costa
Shaqiri joined Stoke from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2015 and has since played 54 games for the club in all competitions.
Unfortunately, injuries have blighted his time in Staffordshire so far and fans have perhaps not seen the performances they were expecting from a player who has three Bundesliga titles and one Champions League triumph – among other things – on his CV.
However, they have caught glimpses of what Shaqiri is capable of, with the 25-year-old scoring a blistering free-kick against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 2016/17 season and also putting in a man of the match performance against Hull City in October.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring their second goal
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