Stoke City have no plans of selling Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has affirmed that the club have no intention of selling star performer Xherdan Shaqiri during this summer’s transfer window.

The Switzerland international has been identified as a potential target for AS Roma, who will be replacing Liverpool-bound Mohamed Salah this month. Shaqiri’s brother has also highlighted that the attacker could prefer a move to Rome in the future, but Coates has poured cold water on any speculation.

"No, there is nothing in that.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." He told PA Sport.
The former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan winger has not lived up to his billing during his two years at the Bet365 Stadium with consistent niggles denting his chances of progressing further in his career. At just 25, Shaqiri still has time to develop his talents and the Potters are unlikely to listen to any offers despite the strong interest from the Giallorossi.

Shaqiri joined the Staffordshire outfit from Inter Milan for £12m back in the summer of 2015, and he has since managed just seven goals across all competitions for Mark Hughes’ side. Stoke are an ambitious club hoping for a European push next season, but they may struggle to attract top talents this summer after they finished outside the top ten for the first time under the Hughes’ reign.

Before investing, the Potters will have to remove some of the deadwood from the squad with midfielder GiannelliImbula among the top candidates to be shown the exit door during this summer’s transfer window. Stoke City finished a lowly 13th in the league last season.