Should Newcastle United go after Xherdan Shaqiri this summer?
It looks increasingly probable that Stoke City will be relegated this season and therefore a number of their heavy hitters should be available in the coming months.
Xherdan Shaqiri is likely to command significant interest, given his profile, and Newcastle United should certainly be in the race to sign him.
According to The Liverpool Echo, Newcastle were among the clubs interested in signing him in 2015, before he punted for a move to the Potteries.
And Rafael Benitez could and probably should consider picking up where Steve McClaren left off.
Benitez has to consider bolstering his right-wing options and Shaqiri would do just that.
Matt Ritchie is a popular figure among the Magpies’ faithful, but three goals in 32 Premier League starts isn’t ideal and although the Swiss winger only has seven in 34 (and six assists), that number would surely rise in a better side.
The United boss also spent £12 million on Jacob Murphy last summer and although he isn’t quite a flop yet, he is far from the success story that Benitez and Newcastle fans would have been hoping for as of yet.
According to CIES, the 26-year-old is worth close to £20 million. Benitez must have rock-solid assurances from owner Mike Ashley that money will be made available, after doing such a good job this season, and if it is then Shaqiri isn’t out of their price range.
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