Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri was spotted at the Britannia Stadium to watch Stoke City’s opening match of the Premier League season against Liverpool, with Potters’ boss Mark Hughes hinting a deal is close to being done.
Shaqiri joined Inter Milan from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window, and Inter had agreed to a $19 million transfer fee from Stoke earlier this summer, but the player reportedly turned down the move.
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After the match, Hughes said you can never predict what will happen in the transfer window, but is hopeful the move will go through this time. “We’ve had a pre-season of chasing quality targets. Until you see the player holding a shirt you never know but we’re hoping of making something happen - the fact that he’s here would suggest that.”
Following a disappointing 4-2 loss to Leicester City on the opening day, Sunderland is looking to add to it’s roster, and one name linked with the Black Cats is that of Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj. The Sunderland Echo is reporting that the 20-year-old winger could move to the Stadium of Light on a loan deal, but that depends on whether United can lock up a move for Pedro from Barcelona. Januzaj was impressive during the Red Devils’ preseason tour and played with Belgium at the 2014 World Cup, but has struggled finding consistent minutes at Old Trafford.
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Newly promoted Bournemouth have had a bid accepted by Barnsley for defender Mason Holgate, according to the Daily Mail. The 18-year-old has been on trial with Manchester United after playing just one season in the third-tier of English football with Barnsley, but has attracted the interest of multiple Premier League clubs. If Holgate moves to Bournemouth, he would become the Cherries’ eighth summer signing as they began the club’s first-ever PL campaign with a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Chelsea is still in the market for a left-back, as German club Augsburg has rejected the Blues’ $27 million offer for Baba Rahman. Mourinho is keen to bring the 21-year-old Ghanaian to Stamford Bridge, but Augsburg is holding out for a transfer fee of closer to $33 million, which Chelsea must now decide if they will meet.