Former Bayern Munich and Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld says he is happy with Mark Hughes' invitation to visit Stoke City and see for himself the surroundings in which Xherdan Shaqiri is playing.

Hitzfeld recently claimed that Stoke are only a stepping stone for Switzerland international Shaqiri and dubbed the Potters "unexciting".




In response Hughes invited Hitzfeld to Stoke to take in a match and see for himself where Shaqiri is plying his trade – and it is an invitation that the German is ready to consider, while he also lauded the Potters' boss.

"I am very pleased with Mark Hughes' invitation", Hitzfeld was quoted as saying by Swiss daily Blick.
 


"Going to a game at Stoke is of course something worth considering", the 67-year-old continued.

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"Mark Hughes is a good guy, a positive character and was absolutely a role model as a player."

Shaqiri has been linked with a switch away from Stoke in the winter transfer window, which swings open in less than a month, with Italian side Roma mooted to be keen.

So far this season the former Bayern Munich man has made nine appearances in the Premier League for the Potters, scoring three goals.

His contract with the Staffordshire side runs until the summer of 2020.