Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has stressed his desire to retain goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, in spite of reported interest from both Liverpool and Manchester United.

The 27-year-old, whose contract with the club comes to an end in June next year, is yet to start discussions about a contract extension with the Potters.




Hughes, though wary of the contract situation, doesn't want his mainstay between the sticks to leave, as the club aim to make further progress in the near future.

Financial demands, the manager believes, are part and parcel of any player's contract extension talks and the 51-year-old is confident about having all the issues on that front resolved sooner rather than later.
 


"My view on it hasn't changed. I want Asmir to stay here. We can offer him a good option. We feel we are progressing and we want him to be part of that", Hughes was quoted as saying by ITV.

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"We are conscious that he is in the last year of his contract, so we are wary of that.

"Financial demands will always be part of the discussion, but I don't think that would be something that would affect anything we would be looking to do with him.

"We haven't had those talks yet but once we do at the end of the season then hopefully we can get a quick and happy resolution.

"We want Asmir to keep progressing as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League here. I am very hopeful of being able to agree something with him and his representatives."

Begovic has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but his club have refused to sell one of their top performers.

However, with reports suggesting that their number one David de Gea is set to leave this summer, the Bosnia-Herzegovina international might be looked upon as an option by manager Louis van Gaal.

Italian giants Inter Milan are also interested in the player, but are wary of the Potters' asking price.

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