Stoke City have joined the race for Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, amid reported interest from the likes of Liverpool and Inter Milan.
Shaqiri, 23, 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 Switzerland international considered his future last summer, but claimed Bayern turned down a 20 million-euro offer from Liverpool.
"Things could move fast now," Eddin Shaqiri, Xherdan's agent and brother, told 20 minutes. "On the other hand we have until Jan. 31 to find a solution."
According to the Swiss paper several clubs from Premier League and Serie A are interested in signing the midfielder -- "not only Inter Milan and Liverpool," the paper said.
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 in quotes reported by the Stoke Sentinel. "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.
"But there's 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."
Meanwhile, Tuttosport have reported that Inter Milan 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 two million euros and also hope to include a 13 million-euro buy option in the contract, the paper reported.