Almost Done – Chelsea Set To Sign £75,000-A-Week Star Despite Man United Interest

Signing a player who is also a target for your rivals has a two fold benefit. In the process of strengthening your own team, you are simultaneously leaving your rivals with a weakened chance of doing so. In the modern , competitive and cut throat world of football, weakening your prospective rivals for a title chase or champions league football is almost as important as providing new impetus to your squad. United displayed such ruthlessness a few years back when in prizing away Van Persie from Arsenal ,they left the Gunners impotent up front and unable to mount a title challenge.

Reports in the Daily Mail are claiming that the Red Devils might be at it again, as they are planning to hijack Chelsea’s move for Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic , whom they have identified as a potential replacement for the Madrid bound David De Gea. Chelsea, for their part, wish to sign the 28-year-old as a replacement for Petr Cech, who joined arch rivals Arsenal last week.

The Stamford Bridge club were reportedly close to agreeing a fee for the Bosnian International with Stoke, and Begovic was widely tipped to join the reigning Premier League champions after reports had emerged that he had already agreed a five-year deal with the Blues.

However, with United now entering the mix for his signing, things have got interesting to say the least. The Stoke goalkeeper, who has developed into one of the best in the league between the sticks since his arrival in 2010, was expected to be an understudy to the brilliant Belgian Thibaut Courtois. United hope to lure him to Old Trafford with the offer of being first choice. That can well be an incentive too good to refuse and might tempt the Bosnian into swapping the Blues for a regular role at the Red Devils, as at 28, he will feel that the time to play second fiddle is long past himself.

Incidentally, Chelsea fear the same and are therefore stepping up their efforts to seal his signature before United can follow their interest with a formal offer. Several outlets are now claiming that they are close to agreeing an £8 million deal with the Potters and are confident that they can repel United’s overtures.

This has been a very fascinating development in the Begovic saga as this is a goalkeeper who might become a crucial player for whichever club signs him. Many at Chelsea view him as the ideal alternative to the departed Cech. United fans are also hopeful that he can translate his form for the Potters into a successful career at Old Trafford. However, at this moment, this transfer saga rumbles on into overdrive with no quick end seemingly in sight.