Chelsea star Asmir Begovic, who has been linked with West Ham recently, is reportedly wanted by former club Stoke City in January
Daily Mirror claim that Stoke City are plotting a return of their former goalkeeping star Asmir Begovic. The Bosnian International has found game time hard to come, playing second fiddle to Belgian superstar Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea. He could be on his way back to the club where he first came on the radar of other top clubs with impressive performances at the then Britannia Stadium.
Asmir Begovic arrived at Stamford Bridge at the start of the 2015-16 season and managed to make 17 Premier League appearances in his debut campaign. However, the arrival of Antonio Conte has seen him fail to make a single Premier League appearance this season, something that is likely to make the 29-year-old unhappy.
Stoke City’s first-choice keeper Jack Butland suffered an ankle injury at the start of the season and has failed to make a single appearance this season. The player has been out for a while and is set to be out for some more, something which forced Mark Hughes to bring in Lee Grant on loan from Derby County as a short-term solution for the goalkeeping conundrum.
The 33-year-old has been immense for the Potters, recording a total of 5 clean sheets in 11 Premier League appearances, the latest coming in a 0-0 draw against Southampton.
There have been reports that Mark Hughes is looking to sign the player on permanent basis, but Grant’s form has seen Derby County hike their valuation and asking price for the player in an attempt to milk the situation; this, despite Grant having just six months left on his current deal.
Mark Hughes was adamant that Stoke City’s side would not be held to a ransom for the in-form veteran. The whole situation has now seen Hughes look back towards Asmir Begovic, who is looking for greater playing time, something he could attain at the Bet365 Stadium.
Stoke pocketed £8m from the sale of Begovic and would not mind shelving out a similar fee in order to achieve a transfer for the keeper, who himself is looking for a way out. However, Conte is unlikely to let the 29-year-old leave before adding a replacement for the player.
West Ham have also been linked with Begovic and it would be intriguing to see where Begovic ends up, come January. One thing that is becoming more and more certain as January draws near is the fact that Chelsea’s failure to give Begovic an appearance in the Premier League may just prove to be the final straw.
It may push the goalkeeper away from Stamford Bridge and, perhaps, back to the club where he rose into prominence in the first place.
