Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is keeping his options open by delaying the signing of a new contract at the Britannia Stadium knowing that there will be a flurry of activity this summer once Manchester United goal keeper David De Gea moves to Real Madrid.
Add this to the fact that both Liverpool and Arsenal are in the market for a new shot-stopper and the Bosnian international knows his being available could land him a lucrative deal.
Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes is well aware of the situation and while he would very much like the 27-year-old to remain at Stoke he understands Begovic’s way of thinking.
“In the same way as players you try to bring in, you don’t know if the deal is done until it’s in black and white,” he told The Sentinel.
“You don’t necessarily know if you’re being told everything by the selling club or indeed by the player’s agent.
“We would very much like him to extend his contract but I think Asmir has said it himself, he is keeping his options open and seeing what might be available for him.
“My hope is that he decides that we are the best option for him and that he extends his contract.”
