Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes has indicated that Asmir Begovic may well be discussing his future with other clubs, with both Manchester United and Chelsea linked to the Bosnian stopper.
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Begovic has only one year left on his current deal at the Britannia Stadium, and has been linked to several major clubs across Europe over the last few weeks.
Speaking about the player’s situation, Scholes admitted that while the Potters were still hoping to tie the player down for an extended stay, he could be looking elsewhere.
“We would very much like him to extend his contract, but I think Asmir has said himself that he is keeping his options open and seeing what might be available for him,” the chief executive began, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“If I’m speaking frankly, I don’t know whether or who he might be speaking to. That’s not accusing him of anything, it’s just saying that’s the reality.”
In particular, the keeper has been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
It’s little secret that Real Madrid are keen on the Red Devils’ current incumbent between the sticks, David De Gea, and are planning to launch an assault for the 24-year-old Spanish keeper this summer [Independent]. The international, for his part, is believed to be prepared to reject United’s offer of a £200,000-per-week deal as he looks to return to his homeland [Mail].
While the likes of Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur [Goal] and Petr Cech of Chelsea [Manchester Evening News] have also been linked with a move for the Eastern European stopper, Begovic would represent a much cheaper option for the Red Devils, with the Daily Mail expecting a bid of £8 million to be enough to secure the 27-year-old.
Chelsea are also believed to be keen on the keeper, with both Cech and their No. 1, Thibaut Courtois, linked with the Stamford Bridge exit door [Telegraph].
Inter Milan [ESPN] and AS Roma [Stoke Sentinel] are also believed to be interested in the guardsman [Daily Mail].
Begovic has spent five seasons at Stoke, having arrived at the club in 2010. He moved to the Potteries from Portsmouth, where he spent five years without truly making his mark on the first team. During his spell at Fratton Park, he spent time on loan with the likes of Ipswich Town, Yeovil Town, Bournemouth and Macclesfield Town.