talkSPORT Transfer Spotlight: Tottenham target Xherdan Shaqiri, facts, stats and video

talkSPORT turns our transfer spotlight on Tottenham target Xherdan Shaqiri, the Swiss winger attracting interest from across Europe. 

FACTFILE?

Name: Xherdan Shaqiri?
Date of birth: October 10th 1991?

Birthplace: Gnjilane, Kosovo
Position: Winger

Club: FC Basel 1893?

International Appearances: 11 full caps for Switzerland
Honours: Under-21 European Championship runner-up (2011), named in under-21 European Championship team of the tournament (2011)?, Swiss Super League (2010, 2011), Swiss Cup (2010)
 
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DID YOU KNOW?

?1) Shaqiri was born in war-torn Kosovo, before moing to Switzerland as a child, where he joined local side SV Augs as an eight-year-old. He progressed quickly and in 2001 he joined FC Basel, going on to be named Player of the Tournament at the U15 Nike Cup in 2007.

?2) He made his senior debut for Basel in July 2009 and scored his first goal in November of that year. Basel went on to win the domestic double in Shaqiri's debut season.?
 
3) He made one appearance for Switzerland in last summer's World Cup, but came to everyone's attention when he scored a belter against England in September 2010 during a European Championship qualifier, which you can watch below.??

4) Clubs were slow off the mark to snap up Shaqiri when his contract expired in January of this year. It was reported that Basel would have parted with the 19-year-old for as little as £5million. Now, after a terrific performance at the U21 European Championships, in which Switzerland lost to Spain in the final, Basel's valuation has reportedly risen to around £10m.

??5) The winger can play on both sides and, though left footed, is also very confident on the right flank. Shaqiri's agility and skill causes defenders havoc and his quality in wide areas of the pitch would make him an asset to any team.??

 
HE SAYS: "I’m a really special player. Very creative in my approach to the game and I like to take risks. Of course, I like to score: I have to score." A modest Shaqiri, June 2011? ?

THEY SAY: “I believe his price-tag is between €6m and €10m, depending on what Basel ask for." Shaqiri's agent Ulisse Savini, June 2011? ?

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