Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Aston Villa are keen on Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic but will only be able to land him for a cut-price fee.

The claret and blues have registered an interest in the 6ft 6ins ace as the hunt for a No.1 to replace either Brad Guzan or Shay Given continues.

Boss Tim Sherwood is determined to bring in a new stopper and would love the big Bosnian on board.

Financial restrictions are thwarting his pursuit, though, as Villa are simply not prepared to pay the £10million asking price set by the Potters.

Champions Chelsea are also in for Begovic and will have no issues stumping up the cash, but the 28-year-old is not interested in being an understudy.

How YOU rated the players in 2014-15

At Villa he would be the guaranteed first-choice and a huge coup for Sherwood as he begins his transformation.

Stoke must lower their valuation, though, if Villa are to have any joy in tempting him away.

Wages would not be an issue as the club are willing to spend more in that department this term. If there is a stumbling block it would be the initial outlay.

Begovic would be an ideal signing for Villa and show a real statement of intent.

He is expected to leave the Britannia Stadium this summer after five-and-a-half years at the club.

His family are settled in the area and moving to the West Midlands would not be too much of a change from his north Staffordshire home.

Whether he would see a move to a club, that has struggled against relegation for the past four seasons, as progression, is uncertain.

Sources close to the proven Premier League performer say he is keeping his options open and that a club like Villa would appeal.

Sherwood and director of recruitment Paddy Reilly are not yet ruling out any other options but remain focused on recruiting a new addition before the start of the season.

At present Given is the club’s No.1 and he said recently that he was hoping push on as first-choice next term.

“The FA Cup run gave me a few games if nothing else,” he said.

“I’ve been working hard behind the scenes and a lot of people wouldn’t see that, you know on the training pitch and in the gym and different things.

“I was just hoping for the opportunity really and thankfully in the FA Cup the run has helped me to show some people that I’m still fit, still able to play I think and I’ve done well in some of the games as well so it’s been a boost for me personally.

“I want to keep pushing Brad all the way.”