Manchester United set to move in for Chelsea target Asmir Begovic

Manchester United are looking to make a move for Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begović in the summer, alerting Chelsea in their pursuit of the Bosnia international, reports the Daily Mail.

Jose Mourinho had made Begović his prime target for the summer after allowing Petr Čech to join Arsenal. The 33-year-old, who joined Chelsea in 2004, was not willing to sit on the bench at the expense of Thibaut Courtois and forged an agreement with owner Roman Abramovich to sanction his transfer.

However, they are yet to decide on a fee for the 28-year-old, having made an improved £8m bid last week to Stoke City, according to the Telegraph.

The goalkeeper has only a year left in his current contract and is likely to move this summer but the Potters want a loan deal for their outcast Victor Moses along with a cash offer. The former Wigan winger has failed to get onto the Chelsea first 11 and has spent loan deals at Liverpool and Stoke since joining in 2012.

The delay has caught the eye of Louis van Gaal, who will be in the market to replace David de Gea as and when the Spaniard completes a move to Real Madrid

Begović is expected to act as back-up to former Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés in the event of De Gea's departure, who has only a year left in his current contract. Talks have broken down at the moment with United wanting Sergio Ramos in any deal involving De Gea, according to the Guardian, and have already had a bid rejected for the defender by Madrid.

Therefore Mourinho wants to get the deal done as soon as possible to not allow United to make their interest known to Begovic, which is likely to increase his price in the market and also reduce his chances of signing the keeper.

Mourinho has already completed a deal for Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco and is looking to get his transfer business done early to help the players bed in during pre-season.