Tony Pulis has come out to the media and dismissed and speculation that Stoke ‘keeper Asmir Begovic, who is target of numerous clubs around the league and Europe, has not already been sold and no pre-contract has been signed with anyone. Surely it’s only a matter of time, though.
With an estimation of £15 million and Stoke being right in the heart of the final relegation spot, I cannot see a goalkeeper of that obvious quality staying in the Championship if Stoke do get relegated, and with them playing Sunderland tonight it could be ever closer that the Potters face relegation and in my opinion, Stoke’s player of the season leaves for a more illustrious club.
The thing is, at the start of the summer transfer window, Jack Butland will arrive after completing a £4 million transfer in January and being loaned back to Birmingham and he has said he does not want to play second fiddle anymore at the club due to him feeling he is a 1st choice keeper now, and I don’t think Begovic will appreciate being 2nd choice keeper. Unless Butland is loaned straight back out again at the start of the summer transfer window, but it comes across as Butland is a safety net and depending on the status of the club and Begovic, will determine who is the number 1 for next season. Pulis is determined to make a lot of money back on Begovic and is adamant that only a big transfer will trigger him being released.
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