Sky Sports Scout is where we scour the globe looking for the best talent, next up is Xherdan Shaqiri.
We run the rule over Swiss starlet Xherdan Shaqiri
Sky Sports Scout is our exciting feature where we scour the globe looking out for the best talent and bring you a report on what we find.
Our Scout will report back and you can comment on what you think of our appraisal.
Also, in association with Football Manager, we give all readers the chance to win a copy of the latest game by nominating a player.
You can only nominate a player by
emailing here, including the word 'Scout' in your subject line and please check to make sure we haven't already covered the player, you can see over 100 previous reports to the right of the page.
Should your player get reviewed by our scout, and you were first to send in his name, then you will win a copy of the all new Football Manager 2011.
You can also now interact with the scout via his all new Twitter feed! You can get in touch with him and interact
here or just search for @skysportsscout!
Latest under our scout's gaze is Basel's
Xherdan Shaqiri - recommended by
Sky Sports reader
Les Benjamin.
The scout reports...
Xherdan Shaqiri's face came to prominence in the summer of 2010 when he was the shock name in Switzerland's squad for the World Cup finals.
At 18, Shaqiri was not expected to feature - but he had done enough late in the season with Basel to earn his place in South Africa.
The progress made by Shaqiri has been a rapid one, as he only made his senior debut for Basel just 12 months before making the trip to the World Cup finals.
Kosovan-born Shaqiri, who has Albanian parentage, moved to Switzerland as a child and was picked up by Basel when he was just 10.
He was marked as a huge talent very early on and was capped by Switzerland at youth level before being quickly promoted into the senior set-up.
Shaqiri is by trade a left-winger, but he has so much to his game it is hard to even describe him. Diminutive at first glance he is full of power and running, whilst having a number of tricks up his sleeve.
But due to his power and excellent football brain, he has also been deployed as a wing-back, as well as a second striker.
Shaqiri is a genuine talent. He has a football brain, can pass, shoot and has the ability to play on the left or right.
It is therefore little surprise that most of Europe's elite are now queueing up to try and take him.
In England, Liverpool and Aston Villa are both very much looking at him for this summer - but by no means is he heading for the Premier League as the likes of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio are also keen.
The scout says...
Shaqiri is contracted to Basel until 2014, but if they can keep him for another season they will be doing well.
A really exciting attacking talent and looks more than capable of being able to make an instant impact in any league across Europe.
The Scout rating...
Shooting: 7 out of 10
Passing: 8 out of 10
Tackling: 6 out of 10
Heading: 6 out of 10
Pace: 7 out of 10
Vision: 8 out of 10
Current ability: 7 out of 10
Potential ability: 10 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 59/80
Current value: £6million
Potential value: £25million
Your opinion...
You have read our opinion of Xherdan Shaqiri - now we want your views. Have you seen Shaqiri in action? Do you agree with our assessment? Do you think he will make it?
Get in touch, either using the form below, email or the scout's all new Twitter feed - @skysportsscout
And if you have spotted anyone you think we should feature then please get in touch using the same form. We will look to send out the Scout to follow up your leads.
