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Stoke join race to sign Liverpool target Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri has attracted the interest of Liverpool and Inter Milan © Getty Images

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Stoke City have joined the race for Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, amid reported interest from the likes of Liverpool and Inter Milan.

Shaqiri appears likely to leave the Bundesliga champions during the January transfer window, having become frustrated with his lack of playing time with only three league starts in the first half of the season.

The 23-year-old considered his future last summer, but claimed Bayern turned down a €20 million offer from Liverpool.

Speaking to BBC Radio on Tuesday, Stoke's assistant manager Mark Bowen confirmed the Potters are interested in the midfielder.

"He's definitely on the list, but there is competition for a player of his ability," Bowen said. "There are other clubs interested, but it doesn't mean we rule ourselves out."

Bowen added that the summer addition of Bojan Krkic, 24, made the club more attractive and could lead to Shaqiri opting for the Premier League side. "It's bound to help and it does help," he said.

"There are many boxes to tick, not least the financial side of it, and with Shakiri coming from one of the best, if not the best, clubs in the world, there's a lot of persuasion to get it over the line."

According to the Swiss paper 20 Minutes several clubs from Premier League and Serie A are interested in signing the midfielder - "not only Inter Milan and Liverpool," the paper said.

"Things could move fast now," Eddin Shaqiri, Xherdan's agent and brother, told the newspaper. "On the other hand we have until January 31 to find a solution."

Tuttosport have reported that Inter are set to meet with Bayern representatives as well as Shaqiri's agent in Munich on Wednesday to discuss a potential loan deal until the end of the season.

The Italian club could offer €2m and also hope to include a €13m buy option in the contract, the paper reported.

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