BEGGING FOR HELP

STOKE are weighing up a move to re-sign Asmir Begovic after baulking at Derby’s demand for Lee Grant.

Derby want around £4million for goalkeeper Grant, a valuation that has put off Stoke and forced them to look elsewhere.

Grant, 33, joined Stoke on a six-month loan in August and has impressed since making his Premier League debut the following month.

Derby are hoping to capitalise on his higher profile by asking for a big fee even though Grant has just six months left on his Pride Park deal.

But Stoke are considering alternatives including former keeper Begovic, 29.

They would look to bring him in on loan for the rest of the season to bolster their goalkeeping department that has been hit by the loss of injured No.1 Jack Butland this season.

Begovic has been unable to dislodge Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea’s first-choice stopper since moving to Stamford Bridge from Stoke for £8m in 2015. And with Chelsea not in Europe and out of the EFL Cup, Bosnian Begovic is facing limited game-time between now and the end of the season.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes admitted yesterday: “There’s a value on Lee and we appreciate that because he’s done absolutely fantastic for us, but we are not going to be held to ransom.

“There’s a market value on Lee and we know that.

“But we are a bit far apart and we may have to look elsewhere.

“He’s been absolutely fantastic since he’s come here and his form has helped us at a time when we were conceding too readily and he’s settled everybody down.

“He’s been great and we’d love to get it done and we will pay a premium because he’s done so well for us but we think we know the value for Lee and at the moment it’s a bit too far away for us to be able to do.”