Stoke City: We have no offers for Begović, we want him to stay forever!

Stoke City is preparing a new contract for Asmir Begović, in order to prevent the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team goalkeeper from leaving without compensation next year, club officials say, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP). Stoke will wait until the end of the transfer window, on September 1, and then offer Begović a new contract with the intention of maintaining his market value of around 15 million pounds.

Club chairman Peter Coates stated that there are still no concrete offers for Begović and he hopes there won't be any. Coates says he would rather keep him for a longer period than sell him.

- He is a great player and has become an important part of our team. He is also an excellent sportsman and it seems to me that he enjoys playing for our club. We still have no offers for him and as far as I'm concerned, he can stay forever. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the league - said Coates.

He noted that Begović was also very good at the World Cup, but says he didn't have a great opportunity to make a spectacular impression.

- He did his part more than well. But, from the start, it was hard to expect Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the last 16, and to really make an impression at the World Cup, you have to get through the group stage - says the head of the English Premier League club, as reported by NAP.