Arsenal and United Told £15m Could Land Begovic - Report

Stoke City are ready to cash-in on goalkeeper Amir Begovic but will demand in excess of £15million for the in-demand Bosnia international.

Tony Pulis seemingly paved the way for Begovic to leave the club when he signed England international Jack Butland during the January transfer window. Now it seems he has decided to start a summer scramble for his current number one who has been linked with a host of Premier League sides.

The Telegraph reports that Arsenal and Manchester United are both said to be keen in recruiting the 25-year-old in the summer as they look to secure a commanding presence that will push their young goalkeepers.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided to take Wojciech Szczesney out of the firing line against Bayern Munich after some high profile errors and Lukasz Fabianki may well now have a run in the first team.

However, it is believed that Wenger would prefer to bring a more proven keeper to the club that can instantly take over as the number one.

There is a similar situation at Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly interested in signing Begovic in order to create some competition for young Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea.

With Anders Lindegaard failing to push De Gea for a place in the first team, it seems Ferguson would also be interested in bidding for Begovic in the summer.

The Telegraph believes that while Stoke would demand in the region of £15million, they would actually hope to break the British transfer record for a goalkeeper which currently stands at the £18.3m that United paid for De Gea.

This would constitute major profit for the midlands club who paid just £3.25million for the goalekerp from Portsmouth back in January 2010.

Begovic has been an ever present in the Stoke goal this season and has kept 10 clean sheets in another impressive campaign. He was previously the subject of a £4million offer from Chelsea, but it seems Stoke are expecting far bigger offers from Arsenal and Manchester United.

Should receive a substantial offer then the Telegraph believes that they would allow Begovic to leave as Butland has already stated that he has not moved to the Britannia simply to sit on the bench.

Butland stated: "I love playing and I don't want to sit on the bench. For me, it was important I went to a club where I can play and develop my game. Asmir's shot-stopping, decision-making and presence has been solid all season. That is why there has been so much talk about him."