Stoke have outbid Everton with a £12million offer accepted by Inter Milan for winger Xherdan Shaqiri and The Potters are now trying to persuade him to join them.

The Goodison Park club have been making enquiries about the 23-year-old Swiss international over recent days after they were alerted to the fact that Inter may be willing to listen to offers.

Stoke, however, have also been on Shaqiri's trail since last year, when Mark Hughes attempted to prise him away from Bayern Munich, and after having their bid accepted now have a fight on their hands to persuade him to come to the Britannia Stadium.

Inter Milan's Xherdan Shaqiri runs with the ball while playing against Palermo in Serie A, in February

Shaqiri, seen here with Jack Wilshere, played for Switzerland against England in Basel, in September 2014

Stoke City have agreed a fee of £12million for Inter Milan's diminutive attacker Shaqiri

The winger played for Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich earlier this season before his January move to Inter

The 23-year-old Swiss playing holds the ball while playing for Inter against Fiorentina in March

On Wednesday Shaqiri posted this picture to his Instagram account following a workout in the gym

THE THIGH'S THE LIMIT FOR SHAQIRI Stoke's new £12million man Xherdan Shaqiri is almost as renowned for his gym results as he is for his footballing prowess. Having suffered three thigh muscle injuries in the 2013-14 season at Bayern Munich, the results of his intensive rehabilitation regime were clear for all to see as he was pictured at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with some quadriceps and calf muscles which would be befitting of a track cyclist such a Chris Hoy. Advertisement

Shaqiri turned down a move to the Staffordshire club in January in favour of signing for Inter from Bayern, and is understood to be reluctant to leave the San Siro just six months after arriving on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

However, Stoke are understood to have sounded out Inter about a price and the Italians have accepted an offer of around £12m for the diminutive attacker.

He would become Stoke’s record signing if the deal goes through, but it now hinges on them putting together a package to convince him to move.

Everton are still tracking Shaqiri who scored once in eight Serie A starts for Inter after ending his three-year stay in Munich.

Stoke have money to spend with main target Yevhen Konoplyanka from Dnipro talking to Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

They also expect to ratify the sale of Asmir Begovic to Chelsea for £8m to further boost their coffers.

Everton have signed Gerard Deulofeu and Tom Cleverley but Shaqiri would give them extra quality in a number of positions.

They have also asked about Napoli winger Dries Mertens who is similarly on Inter's wishlist.

The midfielder shows off his impressive leg muscles during a training session with Switzerland last summer

Shaqiri (right) arrived at the World Cup in Brazil with some quadriceps and calf muscles befitting of Chris Hoy