The Stoke City star would be a useful addition to the Tottenham Hotspur squad this summer.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri
News emanating from Italy this morning suggests that Serie A side Roma have made an enquiry about the potential availability of Potters winger Xherdan Shaqiri, according to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Tancredi Palmeri, via his official Twitter account.
The Swiss star struggled for Stoke last season, following an impressive debut campaign in 2015 at the BET 365 Stadium, but is still considered to be one of the most exciting wingers in the game on his day.
With this in mind, Spurs should consider joining Roma in the race to sign him, especially with their own left-footed right-winger Erik Lamela expected to be out until October at the very earliest, according to the Times.
The 25-year-old former Inter Milan and Bayern Munich man has all of the attributes needed to help take Tottenham to another level, and his trickery in the final third would offer them a totally different threat to what they currently possess.
Christian Eriksen has been a shining light for the Lilywhites in recent seasons, but the pressure on his shoulders to continually produce is unfair on the Dane, and can sometimes prove to be detrimental to his ability to perform.
And the diminutive Stoke star’s arrival in north London would most definitely ease that burden on the 25-year-old.
With Lamela being absent from action since last October, Spurs have lacked balance in the final third, with no natural left-footed players amongst their attacking line-up.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates
Shaqiri’s inclusion in the Tottenham squad would add both balance and more of a cutting edge to their play. He is also a set-piece specialist, which would make Mauricio Pochettino’s men less predictable to defend against, with the prospect of both him and Eriksen standing over free-kicks and corners.
Stoke signed the Switzerland international from Inter two years ago, for a fee believed to be in the region of £12 million, and he still has three years remaining on his current deal with the Potters, so he will certainly not come cheap.
Spurs have the ability to tempt Mark Hughes’ into doing business, however, with their far superior financial power, and if Pochettino does manage to bring Shaqiri to north London this summer, it could turn out to be a signing of real significance.
Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri
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