According to reports from The Express this morning, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic may have played his last game for Stoke City after being dropped in favour of youngster Jack Butland against Swansea last weekend.
The Bosnian international’s Potters contract is set to expire at the end of next season and his future is yet to be resolved, despite Stoke boss Mark Hughes remaining hopeful he’ll sign a new deal in the coming weeks – as This Is Futbol reported last month.
Arsenal and Liverpool are both known admirers of the 27 year-old, who boasts 170 Premier League appearances, whilst Manchester United were listed as potential suitors by The Metro earlier this week and European champions Real Madrid have also been speculatively linked this season.
Hughes has denied the decision to leave Begovic out of his match-day squad was any reflection on the former Portsmouth man’s future at the Britannia, telling reporters; “Asmir wants to play every game, but I explained the reasons behind my decision. I’m very fortunate to have three excellent keepers, so whoever I pick I’m going to get a decent performance.
“It wasn’t a big decision. It was one of those where I felt it was the right thing to do. I spoke to Jack earlier in the year and said that if I felt there was an opportunity for me to give him game time then I’d do that. It was a good time because it was a game of significance, and he needs to be exposed to those games rather than dead rubbers,” he added.
But those more cynical will read between the lines. Whilst Begovic could force a move away this summer, Jack Butland extended his contract by four years in March – as reported by The Daily Mail.