Sorry all, i am very late to the party.
On Shaqiri - he didn’t want to move to Stoke originally, he was very public about that. I would imagine they have made him an offer making him the highest earner in the history and Hughes will have promised him the world to get him to sign. Fair play if he does, he is clearly the player Hughes wants, he hasn’t given up on him and is willing to take a massive risk and it is a risk. The player is clearly talented, just look at the teams that have spent big money on him in the past but equally Inter can’t wait to show him the door and the only 2 sides showing interest now are Stoke and us (apparently). I don’t think it’s the end of the world if we don’t sign him – although the twitter meltdown will be monumentally entertaining.
I do agree with several posts though that it hurts like hell that teams like Newcastle, West Ham and Stoke are coming across as more ambitious and attractive prospects for players than our club. It’s bordering on embarrassing now.