Stoke City have opened contract talks with in-demand goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, despite speculation linking him with a move away from the Britannia Stadium to some top European sides, according to The Express.
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The Bosnian stopper has been one of the Potters’ top performers all season, despite only keeping seven clean sheets, attracting the gaze of Arsenal and Manchester United.
According to the paper, bids are expected to be placed for the goalkeeper in the summer, with the clubs hoping for a cut-price deal due to him having only one year remaining on his current deal.
Manchester United apparently see Begovic as a possible replacement for David de Gea, who could be on his way out of Old Trafford and on his way to Real Madrid, while Arsenal are looking for a number one after a poor season from Wojciech Szczesny.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes though, is determined to keep their first choice goalkeeper, revealing the club will conclude other contract dealings this summer along with Begovic.
He said, “We want to be a team that’s consistently in the top ten.
“To be able to do that you need key players in key areas of the field and obviously goalkeeper is a key position in any good team and Asmir has been exceptional for us for a long time now.
“We’re talking and those talks are going to be concluded in the summer.
“Hopefully they are going to be concluded in our favour.”