Asmir Begovic the surprise name heading the Real list.
Real Madrid have turned to the Premier League in their search for a long term successor to Spanish international Iker Casillas, report the Mirror, with Stoke City’s Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic now on their radar ahead of a potential changing of the Bernabeu goalkeeping guard.
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Begovic has developed into one of the finest goalkeepers in the Premier League since being brought to Stoke as a relatively unknown youngster from Portsmouth by Tony Pulis and is also undisputed first choice for Bosnia and Herzegovina – although he was at fault for Belgium’s equaliser in the recent Euro 2016 qualifier against Marc Wilmots’ side.
Real signed Costa Rican international Keylor Navas from Levante this summer to provide competition to the out-of-form Casillas, but manager Carlo Ancelotti does not seem to see him as the long-term option for the club between the sticks, opening up the possibility of a surprise raid in the Britannia Stadium.
Begovic still has two years to run on his contract in the Potteries, however, and Stoke are keen to open up negotiations over extending that as soon as possible, meaning that Real could have to move quickly and potentially open their chequebook significantly if they are to prise Begovic away from a Stoke side looking to establish themselves as a consistent top half side.