Stoke Want To Keep Begovic

Stoke chairman Peter Coates has warned Chelsea against making a fresh offer for goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Begovic, 23, joined Stoke from Portsmouth in February this year but, amid interest from Chelsea, he missed the League Cup clash against Shrewsbury as he apparently claimed he was not in the correct psychological state.

Begovic was criticized by manager Tony Pulis for his "totally disrespectful" actions, but Coates insists Stoke still want to keep the Bosnia-Herzegovina international and have told the Blues not to make a fresh bid.

"This is an internal matter and we will decide on what action to take," Coates told Sky Sports News. "Asmir Begovic remains our player. He is regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in the Premier League and we are not interested in any new offers from Chelsea.

"We are not interested in what Chelsea do and we have already rejected an offer, from them, for Begovic. We wouldn't welcome another bid from Chelsea and, as far as I am aware, we have not received a new offer from Chelsea for him."