Tottenham ‘especially interested’ in getting signing over line, and player is keen on the move

The Swiss media have obviously been giving a lot of coverage to Stephan Lichtsteiner’s move from Juventus to Arsenal.

With the country’s national team preparing for the World Cup, it’s thought to be best if enough of the players with doubts around their future can have those sorted out before travelling to Russia.

Xherdan Shaqiri falls into that bracket, and Swiss newspaper 20 Minutes, in an article about the Arsenal move, claims that both Tottenham and Southampton are ‘especially interested’ in signing the Stoke City player.

Shaqiri himself would like an offer from a Premier League club challenging higher in the table, so Spurs would sound the better option. Southampton struggled against relegation last season and whilst it’s hoped that won’t be the case during the next campaign, there’s a greater degree of safety with Tottenham.

Stoke City will be forced to allow Shaqiri to leave should a club meet his relegation release clause, and there’s no benefit in them waiting to see if the Swiss star excels at the World Cup.

For those clubs interested, there may well be a rush, not because of price but to stop anyone else getting the deal done.