Asmir Begovic to join Chelsea in £8m transfer from Stoke City

Chelsea will finalize a deal for the a £8m transfer of Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic according to reports in the Guardian and Telegraph.

Chelsea had long identified the Bosnian as the man they wanted to take over from Petr Cech as deputy for Thibaut Courtois and they have been helped with Begovic making it clear that he wanted to move on from Stoke City this summer.

Begovic’s departure at Stoke is offset by the arrival of Shay Given, who was about to sign for Middlesbrough until the Premier League club turned his head at the last minute. Given, now 39, underwent a medical at Stoke on Thursday and is set to sign a two-year contract. Jack Butland, the England Under-21 international, will start the season as Stoke’s No1.